Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m not… good at…, beautiful, smart, talented, popular, strong, (whatever I wish I were) enough”?  I have.  My guess is, that all of us have if we’ve lived long enough to think!

What do we do when we hear others, especially those we care about, saying that kind of thing?  We usually, hopefully, try to encourage them – “Don’t sell yourself short!”  “Don’t give up on yourself!”  “Don’t be shy, have a try!” (something our students in China loved to say).  “Who says?!” Or other encouraging phrases.

Which makes me wonder—why are we so kind and encouraging to others and so hard on ourselves?  Why do we limit ourselves and yet tell others not to?

Granted, life has limits and so do we.  Barring a miracle, I will not become a famous diva or a superstar soccer player, at least not this side of heaven!  But I’m not upset about that.  Why?  Because I’m not trying or wishing I could be.  Why not?  Because I recognize that’s not what the Lord designed me for or is asking me to do.

BUT—we can become what the Lord did design us for.  AND —  the definition of a lot of terms is subjective – such as “beautiful”, “handsome”, “popular”, “savvy”, etc.  So why should we let others define that for us?

Here’s the best news–  we can not only become better at what we’re already good at, we can become better, and even good, at things we never thought we could be or do.  How?

Change our mindset-– Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”   Obviously, this can be taken too far on the “can” side, considering real limitations, but, again, why limit ourselves.?  Often we discover the limitations aren’t there when we start by changing our minds about who we are, and who/what we can become.  And we will start becoming the best of who we can be by renewing our minds – “..Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Rom. 12:2)

Count God in— “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37).  And, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)  Does this mean I can beat out Usain Bolt tomorrow in the 100 meter dash?   No.  Because I don’t need to do that.  But I’m trusting that if I need to escape a cougar in the mountains, the Lord will enable me to run fast enough to do it!  He supplies the “can” in our need.

Find and enlist an encourager to help you believe and keep believing what you can become, and to help keep you motivated to become that. “…spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another…”  (Heb. 10:24-25)  All success stories involve “I couldn’t have done it without…(wife, husband, mom, dad, friend)” – at least if they admit it!  Such as Ben Carson—kids and even teachers in elementary school called him “stupid”.  His mom said, in essence, “No you’re not!  We’re going to prove them wrong.  Start reading.”  Ben went on to become a leading, well-loved, neurosurgeon, now serving in the national government.

Step out—take action—no-one changes for the better by just sitting there wishing it they could. Athletes train.  Musicians train.  Professionals at anything train.  Developing skills, good habits, and excellent character takes work. But it’s always worth it, because it bears fruit.  And people are “…recognized by their fruits.” (Mat. 7:20) Sometimes the progress seems so insignificant, especially compared to that “insurmountable” goal.  But that’s why many cultures have proverbs to encourage us along the way– such as “drop by drop it becomes a lake”, or “little by little it becomes a big hill”.  These were sayings in Turkey and Indonesia the locals told us when we were learning their language!

“Fail forward”, as one friend puts it– Athletes drop the ball.  Musicians play sour notes.  Professionals at anything make mistakes.  Character transformation often feels like de-formation when we blow it again!  “for the righteous falls seven times and rises again” (Prov. 24:16) The key is getting up and moving on the right way.  Making mistakes and learning from them is part of the process of becoming.  It works in language-acquisition and it works in life.

Is it ever too late to become… (whatever that good thing is we’re yearning to)?  NO!  As Chuck Swindoll once said, “It’s never too late to start doing what is right.” (as long as we’re alive) Or, as they say in the world of sports, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!”

Dare to become—with the Lord’s help and the help of a few close friends!