Place of Abundance

As a mom, one of the most challenging things I do is find creative ways for my children to realize their capabilities. Sometimes it only takes a suggestion. Sometimes it involves creating a circumstance they just “walk into.” And then there are a few times when the only way is to just plain make them try.

I am reminded of one particular time when I made my 6th grade daughter audition for a play. See, she has this gift of a beautiful voice, but she is also very shy. Somehow she needed to see what she could do.

“I won’t do it and there’s NO WAY you’re going to make me, Mom. NO WAY!”  How many times I heard her say this over the course of two days! She practiced and practiced and cried several times, but I would not let her quit. Why? Why would I make her suffer and push her so hard? She clearly did not want to do this but I was making her anyway. She didn’t see the gifts that God had given her, but I did. Somehow, she needed to learn how capable she was. I decided that the best choice was to make her try and to pray for the best.

So the day came for the audition. I was a wreck, even more so than my daughter.  What if I was wrong about her abilities? She got up on the stage, the music began, and there right in front of my eyes, my shy little girl transformed into Eliza Doolittle! She nailed that audition! She ran off the stage saying, “I did it Mommy, I did it! I didn’t think I could but I did, I did!”

God uses this same technique with me. So many times I tell Him that I can’t possibly do something, but He makes me try anyway. I am scared and very uncomfortable, but He won’t let me quit. He reminded me of this in Psalm 66:8-12 which tells us that it is God Who not only keeps our feet from slipping, but Who also leads us into prison and lays burdens on our backs. He even at times lets "men ride over our heads" and leads us  "through fire and water...” 

Why? Why does our Heavenly Father Who loves us so dearly do this to us? Why does He push us and allow us to suffer? So that He can take us to a “place of abundance” that we would never reach without being pushed.

I am quite a chicken at heart, and there are gifts and abilities inside me that only God sees. He is also the only One who can show me what I am capable of with His strength. There have been some situations where God has placed me where I honestly felt I might die. I have been so overwhelmed with tasks that He has asked me to complete that I was positive I would fail. But HE gives me His strength and His wisdom and His leading so that I can accomplish things I never thought I could and certainly would never try. Then I cry to my Heavenly Father, “I did it! I did it! I didn’t think I could, but with Your help, I did!”