The Visible Inevitable Inability

Okay - so reality sets in, and the truth is that you are not as good as you think you are... Well, I guess I always knew how good or not good I was at something, but now others know it too. Yeah, I believe that is more in line with what is happening.
I have found that the best advice I have to give to someone is to truly be themselves. The ole cliche'. However, those words have obtained a new level of common dismissal. In other words, we hear them and they go in one ear and out the other. We say we understand this simple principle but when someone accuses us of forgetting a birthday, the first response we have is an excuse. Or when we realize that we may have forgotten to invite someone to a "get-together" that may cause some hurt feelings... our response is to try to "cover" it up.

Why is that?

I had a conversation with a fellow employee the other day, that I believe will open our eyes to what I am posting about. The conversation began with a desire to improve their part in the ministry... in this case they have the opportunity to minister in the area of music. Through probing questions we came to the conclusion that we need to create an "environment of understanding" in this area of music, thus requiring this individual to speak in front a group of people. In comes the visible, inevitable inability. Their response was "I can't speak in front of people, I stumble over my words". (Now every pastor or biblical reader in this posting forum is clicking in your heads... "mention Moses to them, mention Moses") but nope - I did not.

"What is your fear" I asked
"That I will mess up my words..."
I responded "Why does that scare you"?
Their response went into the same as all of us... and I mean ALL of us.
"They will think less of me" or "They will think I am not a good speaker"

To which I responded my wonderful, most probing question
"Are you a good speaker"

...silence

"No"

This opens a huge door. Honesty has created an opportunity, through vulnerability, to heal some obstacles of the past: fears, hurts, lack of affirmation, rejection.

"So they will think the truth about you?  That you are not a good speak?"

"I guess"

To which I replied my other "almost famous" line... "And what does that mean?"

See, it was about 9 years ago that I heard that an in-law had been talking about my adding of weight to my current skeletal frame (they said I was getting fat). It hurt. It hurt bad. So I went to my prayer closet and proceeded to tell God about this horrific thing that had been done to me...They said I was fat God...
To which the amazing voice said... "Ben, you are." WHAT!!! I couldn't believe that God was telling me I was fat. I could hear His voice saying "Well, you are getting a little soft around the stomach there, and could use to lose a few pounds". Devastated I cried and worked through some things when the most amazing thing happened. I began my journey of TRULY understanding the LOVE of God. God's concern for my weight was for me, not cause I looked bad, or because someone else could tell I was getting fat. In fact, I learned for the first time in my life that day... God Loved ME. God loved Me, Ben Stewart. No matter what.
I realize this post is getting huge so let me wrap this up this way. The very things that we work so hard to hide end up keeping us from truth and freedom. The fact is that I am still a little pudgy in the middle, however I do not have to hid behind that anymore. AND it does not make me any less of a person, UNLESS I let it hinder me from being WHO God has called me to be.
So the moral of the story is this... Your inevitable inabilities will show up at the most in-opportune time - and it WILL be visible for all to see. Be real with yourself and NEVER let your inabilities stop you from doing who God made you to be.
Remember God sees all, and He looks for the availability, not the ability!