Maybe It's Not Them...

Make sure you’re not the problem.

It’s easy to point the finger at someone else and blame them for our shortcomings and failures. It’s also equally easy to say the reason why we haven’t moved ahead is because we were not given certain opportunities, we haven’t made the right connections, and we certainly don’t have the right last name.

Many times, we spend countless hours in prayer asking God to change our station in life. We have grown weary of life as-is, weary of the same people in our circles, weary of watching others do what has been in our own hearts to do, weary of sitting in the same place doing the same thing and weary of navigating the same problems, hitting the same walls.

But is the issue that God has not heard us, or is it that we have ignored Him?

Because God has a plan for our lives, He most assuredly answers our prayer. How else could He communicate it to us except through speaking to us? Consider how many hours we spend talking to friends and loved ones, counsellors and coaches rehearsing the same situation over and over and yet fail to take action…

There comes a point when you have to ask yourself, what’s the real problem here? Is it them or is it me?

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therin, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:22-25 KJV)

Just because His answered prayer does not resemble the prayer you prayed does not mean He has failed to answer you. Remember, His thoughts are not your thoughts, nor His ways your way. The answered prayer looks like revelation; not so much of Him as it is revelation of who YOU are. Through prayer and wise counsel, behaviors are brought to the surface. They are revealed not to shame you but to enlighten you.

Maybe God reveals childhood trauma and the profound effect it has on your adult life and how it colors your perception of yourself and the people around you. Perhaps God reveals that you are in love with people who are not in love with you. You are friends with people who are not friends to you, or He reveals that you are seeking validation from people who will never give you what you desperately seek. Don’t sit in self-pity and don’t wallow in guilt.

Face it head on and tap into the strength God has given you to overcome every challenge, even when that challenge is YOU!

You are beautiful. You are strong. You are capable. No obstacle is too great. ‘They’ are not the problem. ‘They’ do not control your destiny. ‘They’ are not the reason you are not fulfilling your purpose. ‘They’ do not have that kind of power. The choice is yours.

Ask yourself, how badly do you want it? Are you content with rehearsing your dreams or are you ready to place the dream in full production? It won’t be easy. There will be challenges. Some days will be filled with inspiration while other days you will wrestle getting out of bed. You may be given warm affirmations, and you might be given smirks and ridicule. But how far does your ‘YES’ go?

The next time you look into the mirror, make sure it isn’t YOU who is standing between yourself and your dream…