8/14/2018
Shyness And AllA few years back, someone was having a conversation with my son in law and told him that they thought his mother in law was snooty. Can I tell you how deeply that bothered me? Pretty deep. Of course my sweet son in law tried to assure them that I was not snooty, just very shy. He even added-“if you knew her, you would know she’s not that way at all”. It was very kind of him to stick up for me. After the blow of hearing that I was described as snooty, my first reaction was to defend myself~ “I’m not snooty, I’m just extremely shy! I can’t help it.” But then my thoughts went inward. I convinced myself that this was how God made me and He loves me just as I am and understands that I am shy. Can I say~I still believe all of that. God does love me as I am. God does know I am an introverted, shy preacher’s wife. But.... (Yep, but...) He asked me~ Are You a picture of my Son? When people are with you, do they see Jesus shine through that shyness? Even before they know you? Obviously the answer was no, and I knew right then that I needed to be a picture of God’s grace~ shyness and all. It’s something I ask Him to help me with on a daily basis. ~Let them see Jesus in me~ Too often we convince ourselves that we can’t help our demeanor. We argue that that’s just how God made us, but we forget the part of the Bible that says~ We are made in His image. We are known by our fruit. We are a light to the world. Love is everything. In word, in deed, in demeanor. We can do ALL things with Christ help. So I will step out of my comfort zone, put on a little extra deodorant (because I know I’ll be sweating bullets)~ and with Gods help and His power~ I will show the world Jesus. Shyness and all. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 |
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