A favorite cousin gave me an amaryllis about five weeks ago. The bulb was just beginning to sprout. It was a busy day, so when I got home, I put the plant on a table in our garage. It stayed there for several weeks with minimal light. Even in those less than ideal conditions, it grew.
When I moved the amaryllis inside to a table next to a large window, the plant experienced a growth spurt, increasing in height over an inch a day. Now, the central stalk is almost over 2 feet tall, and the bloom is unfurling.
Are you blooming in the areas of giftedness for which you were created?
Following are some steps to becoming who you were created to be:
Pay Attention
Sometimes we fail to recognize our life purpose because we are watching others and attempting to become like them. Instead, take an inventory of your strengths. In what areas do you excel? Although it may be an area you are a little uncomfortable with (I never thought I would be a speaker), don’t be afraid to branch out and move beyond what is easy for you.
Discover Distractions
Are distractions preventing you from becoming all you were created to be? Although we may not realize it, fear is a major distraction. Fear says, “you can’t.” Faith says, “you can!”
Another distraction comes when you worry about pleasing others or fail to maintain forward motion because you are concerned about how others will respond. Becoming involves pushing aside distractions and seeking the Creator’s design and purpose for you.
Optimal Conditions
The amaryllis shifted to exponential growth once the conditions improved. While it was in the garage, with little light and chilly temperatures, growth was slow, hampered by the environment. Good light and nourishment allowed the plant to reach its full potential.
What can you do to optimize your conditions and circumstances? Perhaps you need to distance yourself from naysayers, find a group of people who will encourage you, seek information in the form of classes or mentoring, and nourish your mind, soul, and spirit. Optimizing your conditions enhances your ability to become who you were created to be.
Accept Becoming as a Process
Often, in the writing world, I encounter new writers who aren’t willing to accept the time frame and process that leads to publication. They are impatient and want to skip learning about the industry and working on the craft of writing. They aren’t open to critique or instruction. These writers rarely succeed.
Becoming who you were created to be is a similar process. Becoming involves assessment, attempting and perhaps failing, learning, and growing. Enjoy the process and accept the journey.
Your Time to Shine
My amaryllis is blooming, but it hasn’t reached its full potential. Once it began to open, the process seemed to slow. But when the time is right, it will outshine the Christmas cactus beside it and every other plant in the house.
It is the same with us. Sometimes it’s hard to watch others move forward while you feel sidelined. What can you learn from a time of waiting? God’s timing is always right. While others advance, you are being perfected, made ready for your time to shine.
Acknowledge Your Creator
God created us according to his plan and for his purposes. Recognizing your purpose takes effort, but it also requires action. Don’t allow fear or laziness to prevent you from seeing and becoming the person you were created to be. Step out in faith, with thanksgiving, trusting God to direct you, empower you, and sustain you on the journey of becoming who he created you to be.
“The Eternal will finish what he started in me. Your faithful love, O Eternal One, lasts forever; do not give up on what Your hands have made” (Psalm 138:8 VOICE).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, speaker, and freelance editor. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotionals published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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