Have you ever felt you will never accomplish anything of worth? Have you ever believed that there is nothing you can say or do that will make a difference? Have you ever known the burden of expectation that seems out of reach? Have you ever experienced rejection, discouragement, despair, and pain? Have you ever felt that you were just not good enough? I have learned that I am what I think I am (Proverbs 27:3). If I believe I am worthless, I am worthless. Whether I realize it or not, I “do unto others” what has been done unto me. If I have been labeled as never quite being good enough, then I pass that negative judgment along in my expectations of those I love. If I see myself as being beyond hope then I see others in the same way.
Into this seemingly endless cycle of despair at never quite being good enough, God attempts to break into our negative and pessimistic minds. He waits to speak life to all that we have suffered in our past, life to our present, and life to our future. He wants who we are to be found in Him alone. He wishes for us to realize that unlike what expectations we may have felt from others, whether real or imagined, His expectation is thoroughly attainable. He sees our potential where another might not see it. If we truly listen to Him and obey His instruction, then we find release from our failure. We will discover who we really are. With His love we can break that bondage of despair and frustration. We can do more than just hope one day to be free of all that has defined who we are. We will be free.
Into this seemingly endless cycle of despair at never quite being good enough, God attempts to break into our negative and pessimistic minds. He waits to speak life to all that we have suffered in our past, life to our present, and life to our future. He wants who we are to be found in Him alone. He wishes for us to realize that unlike what expectations we may have felt from others, whether real or imagined, His expectation is thoroughly attainable. He sees our potential where another might not see it. If we truly listen to Him and obey His instruction, then we find release from our failure. We will discover who we really are. With His love we can break that bondage of despair and frustration. We can do more than just hope one day to be free of all that has defined who we are. We will be free.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child” (1 Corinthians 13:11a). We were once children. Those who loved us watched us struggle to crawl or learn to walk. They watched every move we made, expecting to see miraculous change. They rejoiced over us when we achieved a new accomplishment, and they were sad when we failed. We were only little children wanting to me loved for who we were right at that moment—not for any accomplishment. God does not love us because of anything we have done. He loves us because of what He has done for us. He hears our cry to be loved. When we accept His love, the power of what has been in our life is broken. When we live obedient lives that honor Him, we are molded by His power. We become new. We are able to not only know freedom, but to extend freedom in our expectation of others.
Lord, please give each one of us your eyes to see potential not only in ourselves but in others—to speak life instead of death—to speak accomplishment instead of failure—to speak joy instead of despair—to speak peace and healing instead of fear and pain—to see promise where we have seen failure—to believe in what cannot be seen, and to know one day it will be true. Lord, your potential can be our reality.
Lynn Hampton Lacher
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