Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Trust God, trust yourself



"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, and sense of spiritual deadness." -Shakti Gawain

"If you do not ask yourself what it is you know, you will go on listening to others and change will not come because you will not hear your own truth." -Saint Bartholomew

"I believe, first of all, in God, and next to all in Mary McLeod Bethune." -Mary McLeod Bethune


Having spent a large portion of my life allowing other people's opinions shape who I thought I was, at some point I had an epiphany. I realized that some of those opinions were without merit and simply wrong. This one in particular:

"She's not really good at anything."

Because everyone is good at something.


If I believed in such things, I would say I simply stumbled upon the things I was good at quite by accident. But I have come to believe that everything happens for a reason -- even if God never reveals said reasons to us. I also believe we all know on some level what our gifts are and that we should not allow ourselves the luxury or the burden of being deeply affected by either high praise or profound criticism.

We trust God first and foremost, and we trust ourselves. Because the Master Creator of the heavens and earth reveals in His Word this assurance:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 14-16



For most stories about Trust, visit the blog carnival going on at One Word at a Time.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this verse.

We could all use this type of an epiphany!

We trust God first and foremost... that really says it all!

Russell Holloway said...

Hey Katdish. Nice post. I came from the other direction on this topic. If we all think a like, no one is thinking. - Gen. Patton. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

I, too, am challenged regularly to be defined by what God says of me rather than what others think or say about me. Thanks for the post!

Corinne Cunningham said...

Thank you for the wonderful reminder. I think I needed to read this today.

Helen said...

Trusting in self. I have a longer way to get there than I care to admit. :-)

Candy said...

My favorite part of that verse is "My frame was not hidden from you." How often do we think we are running and hiding from Him?

So did you deck the person who said "she's not really good at anything?" or was proving them wrong enough for you?

~*Michelle*~ said...

I think this is my favorite Katdish post yet.
awesome!

Janet Oberholtzer said...

Great post - love the quotes about being knowing and trusting yourself.

I had an epiphany in the last few years about what Jesus meant when he said love others as yourself. I first need to know myself and give myself some credit (after all, I am made in God's image) before I can love myself - and then I'm able to love others from a healthy place, not a needy place.

Marni said...

When I worked with the Youth at our church, I taught the girls the verse in Psalms because I think the female gender buys into satan's lies more readily. Especially when it comes to self esteem, body image, etc.

I wish I could have the years and years back that I bought satan's lies. But I can't. But I can move forward knowing I am only defined by what God says, and nothing more, nothing less. And I'm trying to instill that in my girls as well.

Thanks for your take on trust. It was very powerful for me.

Jeff Selph said...

I like the topic of trust. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs. Trust and obey,for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Billy Coffey said...

Love the verses and the quotes. I've fought the same notions over the years, and still do sometimes. But trusting God has always gotten me through.

Tony C said...

I truly believe God is trying to say somethings to His people. I've read so many post like yours over the past few days and had a personal revelation myself this weekend.

Patience is needed...I know...but I'm sure He is talking to us collectively. I just know it!

Thanks for your post.

jasonS said...

Nice post. God didn't mess up and He doesn't make junk (no matter what anyone else says about us).

Funny, when I went back to the top I misread your title as "Go trust yourself." This made me laugh. :)

Anonymous said...

thanks

Joyce said...

Wonderfully said and that verse is one of my favorites.

Peter P said...

I wish I could work out a way to believe that I'm good at something (other than screwing up)!

Great post, Slave Driver Katdish!

FaithBarista Bonnie said...

"Having spent a large portion of my life allowing other people's opinions shape who I thought I was, at some point I had an epiphany. I realized that some of those opinions were without merit and simply wrong."

I wish I came to that conclusion sooner than later in life (sigh).

God knows best, I've come to just trust.

I love it when you get serious, Kat.

A deep well you've got there... Enjoyed my drink. :)

Thank you!

Chris Sullivan said...

What does good even mean? I guess it struck me as I was thinking about this post that what it comes down to is that God knows us and made us for a purpose.I'm not the best at anything, but I'm not the worst either. I'm pretty sure that is beside the point though. Either way I'm useful for God's purposes.I don't know if I'm good at anything,but certainly I'm good for something or God wouldn't have made me.

Rebecca said...

Thanks, Katdish. I needed to hear that today...I'm my own worst critic. I forget that I'm criticizing the Creator when I do that.

Kevin said...

"I also believe we all know on some level what our gifts are and that we should not allow ourselves the luxury or the burden of being deeply affected by either high praise or profound criticism." Yep! Great point and reminder! :)