Showing Up In All your Strength

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.- Matthew 5:13-16

One of the many things that Jesus is saying in this parable is this: You matter. So many of us believe the lie that our sin trumps God’s original design in us, that our brokenness defines us more than our beauty, and that our limits somehow limit the glory of God in us. Jesus sees us differently. He’s not impressed with our false humility in thinking we don’t matter. He calls out our unwillingness to show our true selves because we think we might be “too much.” Jesus made us who we are, and all that light and saltiness is a gift to the world.

Take some time to reflect on these things, using the below quote to motivate you to talk with Jesus about showing up today in all your strength, all your glory.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

― Marianne Williamson