1430 Lessen the Gap

Who are you? I mean really, who are you? Behind the scenes, beneath the layers, who are you? Do you like you? Are you proud of you? Are you living a life as the person you really want to be, or when you’re being truly honest are you a bit disappointed in yourself? You’re certainly not alone if you’re not totally enthused with the person looking back at you in the mirror. Most of us wish we could be different. The majority of us struggle with an internal battle, secretly ashamed of parts of who we’ve become. So here we are, stripped down before the God who created us, asking what do we do now? What do we do now when the person we see in the mirror doesn’t align with who we wanted to be? What do we do when in a moment of clarity we hear our own selves talking and we’re ashamed of who we have become. Oh dang, I never wanted to be that person. That nagging wife. That yelling mom. That jealous woman. That ungrateful soul. And here I am. Struggling. Knowing I was created for more, but I’m not. I’m less. Philippians 1:6 – “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” God began a good work within you when he first imagined you. In Genesis 1:27 we read, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” That means God had an image of you from the beginning. He imagined all you could be, all you could do and the impact your life could make. With this image of you in mind, he made you and placed all the potential needed within you and put your life into motion at just the perfect time to fulfill your destiny. This is how your good work started. And guess what … you had nothing to do with it. Nothing. This was all about God’s image of what you could be. That’s why he chose you for life. That’s why he created you with your specific set of gifts and talents and characteristics. You were created for good works. You are here to do good things. You are given life to live a good life. Are you? Are you living a good life? Or are you going through the motions? Are you spending your precious days stuck in a pattern, stressing about the details, complaining about the work, dreaming of future days while your current days go unlived fully? Ahhhh, don’t let that be you. I’ll tell you where that leads … that leads to regret. And you and regret mix like water and oil. No bueno. While your potential for a good life had nothing to do with you because it was all God’s idea and his creation, you actually fulfilling that purpose and living up to your potential IS ABOUT YOU. God gave you everything you need, then he gave you free will. He gave you the ability to choose. He gave you the ability to create. If you were to look at the image of the you God had in mind and the image you live with, I wonder how big the gap is between the two. Using your free will and choices, how far have you gone off track? Here’s the great news, God hasn’t given up on you for one second. The opportunity to get back on track with his image for your life is being offered right now. Have you ever asked God to help you lessen the gap? God, help me lessen the gap between who I was created to be and the person I’ve become. God just help me lessen the gap. God started something good in you and let me assure you of this, he’s not finished with you yet! God still looks at you and sees that potential. Perhaps beneath the layers of insulation and protection you’ve created, but it’s still in there. The real you is inside. And here’s what I know … that girl is dying to come out. The real you, the you who is confident and strong and determined with a passion and a purpose, the one who will boldly use her talents and life experiences for good, ahhhhh yes that’s who you can be. The one who is courageous and kind. The one who is trustwort