For God did not give us a spirit of timidity and fear but of power and love and self-discipline. --2 Timothy 1:7.
That verse popped into my head the other morning and started me thinking about several things.
First thing that came up was my apparent fear/embarrassment of this language barrier thing. I can understand so much Spanish now and I think it and translate things easily in my head. But I refuse to speak it. I think I'm super self-conscious of how awkward I sound trying to speak Spanish. I know that none of the people I'm friends with will judge or even make fun of me in a mean way for anything I say incorrectly in Spanish. But yet I am shy and refuse to try. I feel the same way about playing guitar or singing or dancing in front of people.
Second thing that came to mind was talking about God and sharing my faith. There have been several opportunities that I have not taken because I'm afraid that either I'll mess things up and lead someone down the wrong path or they'll be offended and angry at me for talking about my beliefs.
In both of these situations, I need to start trusting God more. I need to have the confidence in Him that He will speak through me rather than let me lead another person to stumble. I need to be secure in Him so that it doesn't matter to me what other people think of my improper grammar and gringa accent or my beliefs and lifestyle. Trust in God is key. Trust Him for everything.
The last thing I realized was that some [gringo] friends of mine have labeled me Piglet (we all got Winny the Pooh characters). I've always thought of myself as a Tigger or Pooh...never a Piglet. I was surprised and a little displeased with this assignment. But after reading the description of Piglet, I was ok with accepting this new "identity." But not for long! I'm praying that God strengthens me and allows me to grow and mature in Him so that I will no longer be swayed back and forth with every false teaching (Ephesians 4:14).
That verse popped into my head the other morning and started me thinking about several things.
First thing that came up was my apparent fear/embarrassment of this language barrier thing. I can understand so much Spanish now and I think it and translate things easily in my head. But I refuse to speak it. I think I'm super self-conscious of how awkward I sound trying to speak Spanish. I know that none of the people I'm friends with will judge or even make fun of me in a mean way for anything I say incorrectly in Spanish. But yet I am shy and refuse to try. I feel the same way about playing guitar or singing or dancing in front of people.
Second thing that came to mind was talking about God and sharing my faith. There have been several opportunities that I have not taken because I'm afraid that either I'll mess things up and lead someone down the wrong path or they'll be offended and angry at me for talking about my beliefs.
In both of these situations, I need to start trusting God more. I need to have the confidence in Him that He will speak through me rather than let me lead another person to stumble. I need to be secure in Him so that it doesn't matter to me what other people think of my improper grammar and gringa accent or my beliefs and lifestyle. Trust in God is key. Trust Him for everything.
The last thing I realized was that some [gringo] friends of mine have labeled me Piglet (we all got Winny the Pooh characters). I've always thought of myself as a Tigger or Pooh...never a Piglet. I was surprised and a little displeased with this assignment. But after reading the description of Piglet, I was ok with accepting this new "identity." But not for long! I'm praying that God strengthens me and allows me to grow and mature in Him so that I will no longer be swayed back and forth with every false teaching (Ephesians 4:14).
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