Most people know that comparing yourself to others is a problem. But there's a version of comparison that sneaks into the church and goes unnoticed: measuring yourself against spiritual "standards." Maybe you compare your prayer life to what you think it should be. Or your generosity. Or how often you read your Bible. You figure, at least you're measuring against something good. But I've found that still leads to the same place: exhaustion and shame. You feel like you'll never quite measure up.
The disciples had been out fishing all night without a single catch. They knew how to fish—it just wasn't working. They were discouraged and defeated. Jesus, standing on the shore after His resurrection, called out to them, "Friends, haven't you caught any fish?" The disciples answered, "No." Then Jesus called out, "Throw your nets on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." When the disciples did as instructed, they caught so many fish that their nets almost broke! (John 21:4–6) I love this story! There are many times in your life and mine when we think we know what we're doing. However, what's been tried and tested in the past is no longer working. Our human efforts have failed.
Do you know how much God loves you? God proved His love for us through His Son, Jesus, who died for our sins. But for some reason, it's hard to carry on a conversation with Him. We can be so distant or believe God is far away, somewhere up in the sky where we can never reach Him. But Jesus didn't die so He could give us religion; He gave His life so we can have a close, personal, intimate relationship with God. We need to get comfortable with God. I don't mean we should ever be disrespectful, but we should be confident that He loves us and that He wants us to spend time with us.
Several years ago, a preacher said three words to me that have stayed with me ever since: "You be you." That's it. Three simple words. No lengthy sermon. No complicated theological explanation. Just permission, or perhaps a challenge, to be exactly who I am. I've tried to live by those words ever since. I haven't always succeeded. There have been times when I've questioned myself, second-guessed my decisions, or wondered whether I should be a little less willing to question things, a little more agreeable, or a little more like what others expected me to be. But those three words have a way of finding their way back into my thoughts. You be you.
Last week I wrote about Joseph and how he was proven in the fire through betrayal, false accusation, put in prison and then was elevated to the palace. This week I want to share the story about Daniel because many of you are not just in a pit season, you are in a Babylon season. You are faithful in a foreign land, because as a believer, you are in this world but not of it. You are surrounded by people who don't honor or serve your God. Daniel came from royalty but was taken captive to Babylon as a young man, just like Joseph was taken to Egypt as a young man. He had to be proven in Babylon.
Do you feel like God is stretching you right now? You're praying for answers to challenging problems, but the silence feels deafening. The tension—maybe in your heart, in your relationships, or in your daily walk. Feeling stretched by God can make you wonder – "Why do I feel this way in this season? I've been there before. As a former coach and health teacher passionate about longevity (body, mind, emotions, spirit, relationships), I know stretching rarely feels comfortable at first. But when God is stretching you this season, it's not to break you—it's to make room for more of His goodness, freedom, and purpose in your life.
Recently, as I was preparing to speak at Capps Chapel, the Holy Spirit prompted me that there was someone listening who had been attacked by a spirit of fear and that I should minister to them. It was a very strong impression, so I asked that person to respond. God wanted them delivered! Fear is not from God! No one responded, so I prayed a general prayer. Later, I discovered that someone was present who was gripped by fear but did not respond! Fear prevented this person from responding.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. John 4:23 ESV In a dream last night, I saw the body of Christ as a huge orchestra. Dressed in concert attire and seated on two sides of a massive room, many were positioned to take part. Not all had instruments ready, but they were poised and waiting for their cue. But there was no primary leader. Not even a podium or stage. They were all simply dressed, seated in place, and ready to make music.
This week I want to tell you about a strange pattern I noticed during my years of coaching on the WTA tour. I would sit with a player after a match she had just won and ask her what she saw. She had hit forty winners. She had served brilliantly under pressure. She had solved opportunity after opportunity for two hours in front of thousands of people. When she answered me, she spoke about none of it. Instead, she spoke about the three backhands she missed in the second set. This was not one player. This was nearly all of them. Some of the most gifted human beings I have ever stood next to could look directly at their own brilliance and see only the cracks in it. Over time I realized this pattern was not a tennis problem. It is a human one. In fact, it may be the most universal habit I have ever encountered in my work, and the one that is quietly shaping more lives than almost anything else I know.
When you're scheduled as a guest on a podcast, it's typical for the host to send you a questionnaire ahead of time. It helps establish expectations and gives the conversation a framework to work from. Recently, I received one that asked how I would teach Fortune 500 leaders the systems and processes that everyone could use to produce better results. Ultimately, I declined the interview, but the question stayed with me because I think it highlights something we need to pay attention to. We love systems. And for good reason. Systems, processes, and protocols are important. They create consistency. They help us govern what we've learned. They let us repeat what works and help others benefit from what we've discovered.
