10.30.21
Hi Friends,
“What’s holding you back?” It’s a very personal question. When I answered the question honestly, I had to admit to myself that I was in an emotional and spiritual battle against three false beliefs:
- Scarcity – the belief that “There’s not enough.”
- Insecurity – the belief that “I’m not enough.”
- Powerlessness – the belief that – “I can’t do enough.”
In my previous blogs, I have addressed Scarcity and Insecurity. Wherever these first two false beliefs are present, the third is inevitable. Let’s dive into the mindset of Powerlessness.
This false belief is built on the lie that we have no ability to change our situation or affect the world around us in a redemptive way. It causes us to say things like…
- “No matter what I do, it won’t be enough.”
- “The problem is just too big. There’s nothing more that I can do.”
- “This situation is never going to change.”
I want you to notice something about these three false beliefs. They are also limiting beliefs. They are the exact opposite of empowering beliefs. Why is that?
Maybe it’s because the enemy of God and humanity wants us to waste our lives running scared. Maybe he doesn’t want us to recognize the freedom and abundance we have in Christ. Maybe he is fearful that we will recognize and step into our God-given identity as His people. Maybe he knows how easily deterred we are from the higher purposes of God and how tempted we are to forfeit the life and purpose God created us to live. Maybe the greatest enemy of God and humanity wants the world to remain broken.
A long time ago someone shared this statement with me: “God uses broken people to fix what’s broken in the world.” I recently shared it with you. I guess I love this statement because I spent so much of my life physically broken; going from fracture to fracture, doctor to doctor. The pain was real. Hospitals, casts, crutches, and wheelchairs were my daily norm, and there was nothing I could do to stop the fractures from happening.
Are we limited? Yes. Do we have weaknesses? Yes. Are we broken in many ways? Yes. Is our pain real? Yes. Does that mean we are powerless? No. We are not powerless!
We are not damsels in distress. We are not timid little children hiding from the school bully. We all have limitations, yes. But that does NOT mean that we are powerless!
Please hear my words. If you are a follower of Christ, if you have His Word, if you have been redeemed by His grace and are infused with His Spirit, YOU are not powerless. WE are not powerless.
- We are CREATED in God’s image with the power to create good in this world.
- We are REDEEMED, bought with a price, with the power to do redeeming work.
- We are RESPONSIBLE to serve God and others according to God’s will and purpose for our lives. (See Matthew 5, 1 Corinthians 6, Romans 12)
My friends, we cannot be created, redeemed and responsible and at the same time also be powerless. Here are a few questions to wrestle with and discuss with a trusted friend or group.
What do you want to see changed in your life, in your family, in your world?
What has God created you to create or even redeem? (Great things happen here!)
Are any of these false beliefs holding you back right now?
I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me at tim@peopleprosper.org. Please don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be praying for you.
If any of these blogs have encouraged you, please share them with a friend.
Serving Together,
Tim Hargrove