It was in the middle of a conversation about vision, life, and where we wanted to go when I suddenly realised something I hadn’t thought about.
Our everyday chat had turned serious and I was encouraging my friend: “You’re going to do it,” I said. I knew without any doubt she would see the things she dreamed of in her life.
Then, she asked me a question which made me pause: “You believe in me, but do you believe in you? Do you believe your writing is going to impact people?”
I hesitated. “No, I mean, I would love it if it does. Maybe. One day. Someday. But, I don’t really think it will.”
It’s always been easy for me to believe in the potential in everyone else, and so much harder for me to believe I’ll ever do anything great. I don’t think I’m alone in this. I had wonderful parents who believed in me, but it wasn’t enough. I had friends who were encouraging, but it wasn’t enough.
When I was 24 I gave my life to Jesus and learned in my heart, and not my head, that I had a Father in heaven who really, really believed in me. It was a turning point. I found new friends who believed in me. Eventually, there was only one person left who had to believe in me, and this was me.
But how? You don’t wake up in the morning thinking you are the Princess of Wales. No. I’m sure many many people wake up everyday convinced they are going to fail and they tell themselves this (this isn’t true by the way). I decided, if I wanted to believe in myself I would have to change what I was telling myself. I would have to get the Word of God and begin to apply it in my thinking and acting.
I did. I would wake up and tell myself good things about my future and my dreams (even though I didn’t really believe them yet). I kept on and on and on. Every morning and every day. Soon, I began to notice a difference. I was more energetic and focused. I started to share my opinion more often. I had less bad moods. People would come up to me and tell me I was glowing. More people respected me, and I had more and better friends.
Even though it was hard and some days I would feel low, I found that I became better about thinking positively about myself. I found my faith grew – my faith in God and his promises, as well as my faith in my potential. After a while, I found I could encourage people from a different place. I could encourage them from a place of confidence. I was no longer in the mindset of “oh I’m sure you can do it.” I was now in the mindset of “I know God can help me and he can help you.”
Sometimes, I think of the dreams that could have been. I think of what could have been invented if someone never gave up on what was in their heart. I think of the races run, people helped, art made and stories told which have never happened. I don’t want that to happen to me and I don’t want it to happen to you.
Today, I would like to encourage you. As someone who is still fighting for her dreams. As someone who doesn’t wake up every morning always believing in herself. As someone who says, “friend, I too struggle. Most of us do. But, we have to look to God, draw strength from him, and choose to believe.”
Life is too short for us to waste our potential. Too short to let insecurity steal from us. And too short to ignore God’s quiet voice of promise saying: I love you, believe in me. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams.