A Little Honesty About My Lot in Life
Been in a bit of a funk lately, struggling with the realization that I’m incredibly mediocre at just about everything I’m passionate about.
Maybe that shouldn’t be a big deal. I grew up with a tremendous about of guilt that I didn’t live up to some mythical level of potential (based on some irrelevant standardized tests), and know that was 100% bogus. God really helped me move past many of the bondages brought on from those days, so maybe it’s time I put this one to rest, too.
After all, this life is supposed to be about giving God glory, right?
Guess my prayer for… well, me… and anyone else out there tonight struggling with a feeling that they don’t make a difference is that we’ll focus on God and his will and less about our own glory. If my part in the kingdom of Christ is nothing more than to scrape gum off the bottom of tables at Mickey D’s, then there is a reason for my being there that stretches far beyond my understanding and perspective. I think the Lord has proven that in the testimony of my life and those of others quite abundantly. I just forget sometimes 
To God be the glory…
Matt,
I wouldn’t call this blog mediocre, nor the many people who come to it for encouragement. Of course, my understanding of blogs is sub-mediocre, but that’s not the point
We missed you guys at group and hope you get to feeling better.
I understand the feeling that you could be doing so much more for God. And you capture the servant’s heart of doing what ever the master requests. But I also believe that God created you with an ache in your heart . I was reminded recently about what Mother Theresa said when asked why she was not discouraged by how awesome the task was of feeding the hungry and giving peace to the oppressed. If
I focuse on the masses I will not act but when I see the one that I can help I will do something. Or something like that.
If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
Mother Teresa
A couple of quotes on this subject come to my mind.
“God does not ask us to be successful. He asks us to be faithful.”
—Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
and St. Therese of Lisieux writes of the joy of “picking up a pin for love of Him”.
Its really hard for us to truly be single of heart. So often our motives are mixed with self. It is a constant throwing of oneself into the arms of the Beloved and relying on His mercy and grace that, moment by moment, can bring us to that joyful place of being able to “scrape gum off of the bottom of tables at Mickey D’s” for the love and the glory of God. God takes our little nothings, and in ways we can’t know or sense, does great things with them, both in our souls and for His kingdom. He doesn’t need our efforts, but He so graciously allows us to participate in doing all for His greater glory.
His goodness just blows me away!
Isn’t it really wonderful that we don’t have to do great things for Him for Him to love us madly? And that He so values our little acts of love done for Him?
Be patient; we can’t go faster than grace, or get perfect in one fell swoop. May God richly bless you!
Aug 19th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
[...] few days ago, I posted about struggles I had with my degree of “success” in various areas of my life. I then related that back to pride and how that struggle could be circumvented by commitment to [...]