Feeling ready is a myth
/Do you feel ready to run your God-appointed race and live your BE-YOU-to-the-full life?
Watching the sports climbing at the Paris Olympics, I became vaguely aware of a word repeated each time the competitors stood at the wall waiting to climb. What was that word?
Ready.
It wasn’t a question.
It wasn’t a suggestion.
It was a statement of intention.
A declaration of what was to come.
The gap between READY and GO was small… and the climbers knew it was coming. In the short wait, they chose to ready themselves.
From the minute they enter the arena the athletes are getting themselves ready.
Physically.
You can see them getting their equipment ready.
You can watch them getting their hands ready.
Mentally.
You can see them looking at the wall getting their path ready.
You can watch them talking to themselves getting their minds ready.
Proximally.
You can see them step up close to the wall getting their proximity ready.
You can watch them position their feet and hands on the wall getting their launch ready.
Getting themselves ready for when that bell signals GO!
The same is true for us in life. We are invited to run our God-appointed race. We are called to get ready and to train. The Bible says we are to be ready in and out of season and that Jesus will come at an hour we do not expect. Sometimes it can feel like we’ve been waiting for God to say GO for such a long time, but these times of waiting can only be described as short when considered in the light of eternity! It is in the waiting that we draw close to God and His love for us. And it is in the times of waiting that we grow strong!
But those who wait for the Lord, [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power;
they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun];
they shall run and not grow weary,
they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
(Isaiah 40:31 | New Living Translation)
But sometimes when God says to GO and enter in to His new thing, His promise, His appointment… we sit back and wait for that elusive FEELING of being perfectly ready.
Waiting to FEEL ready to take action.
Waiting to FEEL ready to give up unhelpful habits that stop us from reaching our potential.
Waiting to FEEL ready to live our lives in alignment with who we are called to be.
Waiting to FEEL ready to make a change.
We tell ourselves that we’ll start one day…
When the stress of life has disappeared;
When we have lived a little and had some fun;
When we have found a life partner;
When we have more money;
When we have more energy;
When we have settled down and started a family;
When we have more healing;
When we hear cheers of approval;
When the kids go off to school;
When we have more confidence;
When we have more time;
When the kids are grown and leave home;
When we have more space;
When we have more qualifications and experience;
When we feel like we are…
good enough
strong enough
organised enough…
and the list just goes on!
Feel familiar?
BUT!
The truth is we may never feel perfectly ready.
The reality is we may never feel like the time is right.
Transformation is a decision. Renewing our minds requires commitment and takes time. Creating and maintaining new habits aligned with our purpose and values often…
FEELS uncomfortable!
FEELS confronting!
FEELS beyond our reach!
BUT!
It is not about FEELING ready!
It’s about allowing God to wrap His arms of love around you and encountering the truth of who God is!
It’s about receiving Jesus and committing your life to God’s care and guidance!
It’s about believing what God says about you and what He has prepared for you!
It’s about committing to run your unique God-appointed race with perseverance!
It’s about choosing to live with integrity in alignment with your values!
It’s about deciding to trust God and obey His word!
It’s about embracing discomfort and saying goodbye to fear!
It’s about overcoming the limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviours that have held you captive!
It’s about taking deliberate action and bravely stepping forward with purpose and intentionality!
It’s about running your race in such a way that you live the victorious promised life!
A blossoming and blooming and beautiful life… of satisfaction and joy!
A BE-YOU-TO-THE-FULL life!
Do you want it?
Can you hear it?
Ready.
It isn’t a question.
It isn’t a suggestion.
It is a statement of intention.
A declaration of what is to come…
Ready to find your unique beauty and be true to who you are!
Ready to free your voice and sing your life song!
Ready to communicate your needs and express yourself!
Ready to embrace a life filled with what brings you joy!
Ready to start that project you’ve been putting off!
Ready to create new healthy habits!
Ready to overcome those limiting beliefs that have held you hostage!
Ready to flourish and shine!
Ready to dare to hope and dream again!
The moment is now!
Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20 | Amplified Bible)