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Have you ever felt like you are not enough? Your story, background, culture and race, or even your name – have you been told these things might get in the way of being effective for Jesus? It’s time to be free from those lies!

  • You do not have to water down who you are.
  • You do not need to feel unworthy because you might not fit a certain mold.
  • God wants to use every bit of your story to share His love with the world.

Hosanna Wong and I spent some time talking about what it means to feel as if we aren’t enough and what to do to deal with that feeling. What I learned from chatting with Hosanna is that we all have broken lenses. When people look at you, including those who love you, they can still see you through a broken lens and say things about you that simply are not true. 

This means you must focus on seeing yourself through God’s lens. What does God say about you in His Word? What trials has He brought you through that could help someone else? Look for things you have in common with those around you. Maybe it’s art or a passion for singing. Maybe it’s teaching or a special knack for cooking and hospitality. How can these bonds of commonality provide a way for you to share about Jesus?

I was drawn into the idea of connecting with Jesus as I talked with Hosanna about learning to rest in Him for how I see myself in this world. Not only was I encouraged, but I was challenged to connect with Jesus because Hosanna transparently shared her own stories of feeling disconnected from Jesus and other people and what she learned to do to deal with that sense of being alone.

The truth is that you may need to relearn some things about connecting with Jesus.

Jesus is the vine, and believers are the branches. Branches must be connected to the vine to live. But actual branches also need a structure called a trellis to lift them up so that they can get even sunlight, which prevents rot or mold. The trellis allows the branches to flourish to their full potential. Spiritual disciplines are the trellis you and I need to feel alive spiritually. When you feel weighed down, like you are fighting an uphill battle, this spiritual structure will lift you up and reconnect you to Jesus.

Spiritual disciplines can be distilled into four rhythms that will help you stay connected to Jesus:

Scripture – The first rhythm of Scripture gives you an opportunity to find a new way to engage with God’s words. Find the time of day and the method that works for you.

Prayer – The second is a rhythm of prayer. Learn to appreciate solitude and embrace gratitude. Make your prayers more specific and ask for healing of particular wounds.

Rest – The third is a rhythm of rest. Discover what Jesus actually said about Sabbath and be willing to challenge your assumptions of what Sabbath looks like. You can find true freedom in the biblical pattern of rest.

Community – The fourth rhythm is real community. This involves you being honest, vulnerable, and real by vocally confessing to people in your life. When you confess, you can be healed and made whole. Community is also about celebration. Connecting with others allows you to release burdens you were never meant to carry. 

If you need encouragement for connecting to Christ, Hosanna Wong’s interview is definitely one you don’t want to miss. If you are struggling with your identity in any way, remember that you will know more of who you really are when you spend time with the One who knows you best. The answer to our questions about identity and feeling disconnected is a real, intentional, ongoing relationship with Jesus.

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Be who you really are
  • See yourself clearly and correctly
  • Engage in supportive spiritual disciplines

Resources from today’s show

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Other Stuff to Check Out

Let’s Talk!

  1. Have you ever felt pressure or encouragement to water down who you are – your background, story, culture, race, language, or name – to be accepted or to fit a mold? How did that affect you?
  2. How have you been seeing yourself through the broken lens of other people? How do you see yourself when you look through God’s lens?
  3. Which rhythm is the most difficult for you – Scripture, prayer, rest, or real community – and why?

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