Stop Apologizing
When I began my relationship with God, the friends I had in my life to guide me recognized what they called “favor” was upon me. I had no idea what favor was at the time. Yet, they felt I had so much that they started calling me Joseph (Genesis 39), or Jo, for short.
As life happened, when I’d get blessed, I would feel guilty. Sometimes I assessed the season others were experiencing to my own detriment. If something good happened I either wouldn’t share, or I’d downplay my excitement. One time at work, I was having a great sales day (which was rare for me). A colleague and I approached a customer simultaneously. I felt like I shouldn’t be too aggressive since I was having a better day, so I basically stepped back. Who was I to go over the top when tomorrow I’d probably be back to my mediocre sales?
Do you do that? Sell yourself short at times at the expense of others. You shrink yourself from being your fullest potential, so others don’t think negatively about you?
STOP! Stop apologizing for what God is doing in your life! He has favored you! At the proper time others can and will experience what God has for them. But, it’s not your responsibility to cater to how people will react to what God is doing in your life.
He gave you blessings, a testimony, gifts, talents, a word and so much more. When you hold back who you are, you’re holding back the God in you.
Now, this is not an excuse to act a fool and have no regard for people!
But seriously, those convictions you have about speaking up, doing more, and writing… that is God. That’s the real you. Stop being afraid because you aren’t sure how others will handle it. That’s not your problem. Their reaction is on them. By operating in your fullness of God you might just help set them free.
Stop apologizing. Stop shrinking. Stop playing small. It is time to bloom and give the world all that God placed inside of you.
“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 5:15,16
When I stopped myself short of talking to that customer, I always wondered what would have happened. That day it was simply one sale missed. However, I thought about how that same fear of rejection and not wanting to do too much holds me back in other parts of my life. You don’t have time for regrets. It’s time to live and do it boldly. There’s value in who you are. Give God the glory by being confident in what He gave you.
