Who am I and what am I doing?

I used to think I was alone in this struggle.  I used to think that I was the only one who questioned myself and what I am doing each day.  But now I see clearly that is just a lie.  Most everyone struggles with this at some point in their life!  I think somehow we believe a lie that we are alone, that we are the only one that struggles, and I am sure we have all felt like we should just give up.  I’m going to be really open and real in this post in hopes that it may someone bless even just one person that reads these words. Do you know who you are?  When you are by yourself, and no one is around – are you okay with who you are?  Do you let yourself be impacted by other people’s reactions to you?  Do you let yourself be impacted by what you think people may be thinking about you? I will have to say there are times in my life that I know who I am REALLY well, and then there are times that I have NO CLUE – been there? I look back and find that it is in the times when things seem to be sailing smoothly along that I feel the most “sure” of myself.  When things are rocky, I am very unsure.  So unsure that I want to run far far away…like so far away that no one can find me!!  Been there? Why does this happen to us?  Why do we sometimes change like the wind in our confidence and purpose?  Why do we question who we are? For me, I find myself questioning small parts of myself.   When I really stop to think about this, the things I am questioning are VERY small parts of myself!  Parts that really are pretty insignificant.  I can have GREAT things going for me, great successes, feelings of love, relationships are good, but then one LITTLE thing can make me feel like a complete failure! Maybe it was something someone said, or didn’t say!  Maybe it was just a feeling of insecurity that came up inside of me.  Maybe it was…well….anything!  I am tired of feeling this way, and I am sure you are too! Today I challenge myself and I challenge all of you to find a stronger foundation on which we are basing our feelings.  To rest in a foundation that doesn’t change based on how we perceive our world that day.  To be confident in the creatures that God has designed us to be.  Not comparing, not wishing, not striving, not questioning….just resting in who we are.  Every part of who we are. What if we stopped worrying about what others think and start being thankful for who we are?  What if we stopped looking for the spotlight and attention, and started letting the true light inside of us shine out to the world?  I read a quote that was great, “People who shine from within don’t need the spotlight”.  Powerful stuff!!  So, I ask us all…are we shining from within today?  Are we confident in who we are?  Are we peaceful? I hope you have been challenged by these words to recognize your worth and your purpose….all without shame, and without insecurity.   I know that if we would do this, the world would be a better place because it would see our TRUE selves!!  We are enough, we do enough, we were made just as we should have been made!  That is good.  That is peace.  That is light. photo 2 (6)]]>