by Kim Avery
Transformed on Tuesdays
Daily across America parents try to encourage their children with these words, “When you grow up you can be anything that you want to be.” But they’re wrong.
What I Can’t Be
Case in point - Don’t laugh too loud, but when I was younger I wanted to be Miss America. I spent hours envisioning how I was going to wow the crowds with my stunning beauty, mesmerize them with my singing, and turn the competition green with envy when I flaunted my perfect hour glass figure in its teensy, weensy polka dot bikini.
Okay, I guess you can laugh. It’s completely absurd. At best, my looks are ordinary. I am completely tone-deaf, and the only hour glass I mimic is the one where all the sand has run to the bottom. I really can’t be anything that I want to be.
God never tells us to choose who we would like to be and then with His strength go for it. Instead, the goal is to be the best me that I can be and for you to be the best you that you were intended to be. And when we do that we can find joy right where we are.
What I Can Be
Each of us is an original.
Galatians 5:26 (MSG)
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
Romans 12:6 (NLT)
God never intended for me to be a Miss America and reaching for that role would only discourage and defeat me. But God did create me for glorious (although ordinary in the world’s eyes) living. He made me a fun-loving, relationship-craving extrovert with an insatiable desire to learn how His Word applies to daily living. He added the spiritual gift of teaching and then planted me in this very broken world.
What Not To Do
No matter who I try to be, I’m still me, and I bring my broken self to all I do. I talk too much, seek out new ways to feed my flesh, and teach others to do the same. Then, ashamed of my sin, I vow to clean up my act and become the practical-minded, work-oriented, introvert I’m sure God wants me to be.
I stop talking, volunteer to clean the church and never pick up a book again. It doesn’t work. It wasn’t meant to. I can’t be anything that I want to be.
What To Do
But I can increasingly move into the Kim God designed me to be.
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.
Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us,
had designs on us for glorious living,
part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)
When I let God redeem that broken Kim, I am the same but better. I talk but it’s all about Jesus. I study so as to seek His face, and I share with others the glories of what He has done.
How About You
Before you were born God designed you to fulfill a unique role in the world. He knit you together with specific strengths and gifts. He doesn’t want you to spend your energies trying to be someone you are not. And it is vain to try to do what He intends someone else to do.
Glorious living comes when you delve deeply into the person God has made you to be, and then let God through His Spirit grow you into the best you ever.
What did you used to dream of doing when you grew up? What have you discovered that you like about being you?
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Tags: *Kim Avery, transformation, transformed on Tuesday
God wove each of us with a particular passion in our hearts. The talents, interests and abilities go hand in hand with that passion. The closer we grow to the Weaver then the more we understand that passion and can pursue it with boldness.
The greatest thing is that the me that God wove is greater than anything I can dream up!
I love that, Kathryn. It’s a wonderful thing when we reach the point where we embrace who He made us to be and discover that who we really want to be. Powerful stuff.
I enjoyed that. It’s causing me to reconsider my calling and myself.
My ‘mission field’ is very small and very focused. It must be by design as I prefer one on one time to big groups.. Although they definitely have their place. I like quiet, am an abysmal multiple-tasker, and need to do things relatively slow to really engage in them. But, I love to fully engage in whatever I’m doing.
God is always the answer for me, but usually I have to figure out how to apply that and how to get out of the way… Or how to engage.
I’m just musing, but this intersects me at a juncture in my life when I’m wondering, “What do I need to do to hear, ‘My child, Well done!’ at the end of my days?”
Beautiful thoughts, Evelyn. I like to think of our gifts and personalities as pieces of a puzzle that when put together form a unique expression of God’s glory that only we could have formed.
Your quiet spirit, love for the individual, gentle pace, and incredible focus are His gifts to allow you to contribute to your world for His kingdom’s sake.
I hope you will keep us posted as you flesh out more what this looks like in this season of your life.
You are precious!
This was a wonderful and timely post for me, Kim. As I approach another birthday this week for some reason I am struggling. Having a “George Bailey” experience of sorts is how I would best describe it.
I dreamed of being a nurse, when I was young, but instead spent many years as a patient. During those years God taught me many things & prepared & equipped me to minister to hurting hearts.
The only thing that I like about myself, today, is that I love people. The love & compassion God placed inside of me is so far beyond myself.
I’m not currently living out my calling. That stings even as I type it out. Worse yet I seem to be stalled with no idea of where to begin to move forward again.
BUT, God knows my heart and His plan. I am open and actively pursuing how He would choose to use me next.
I’ve been trying the “what not to do” plan and it does not work.
Thank you for transparently sharing as I found this to be encouraging.
I covet your prayers.
Melinda, I am the one who wants to thank you for your transparent sharing.
I love hearing your heart for people and your desire to be all that God called you to be. You absolutely have my prayers and I am already rejoicing in faith that God will continue to show you His way step by step.
God loves you!
That really encouraged me, Kim. I feel the affirmation. Thank you.
I always marvel at your ability to keep your personal touch even as your circle continues to widen.