Do You Have What It Takes?

Originally posted 2016-02-29 23:58:53.

Hi!

If you land a job at a company with responsibilities in which you have no experience and knowledge, will you accept it?  Or if someone asks you to serve in an area of ministry that’s totally unfamiliar to you; will you serve?  If not, why?  Could the slight possibility of you leaning towards turning down the offers be due to feelings of inadequacy?  …Or perhaps someone asks you to coordinate a project with a team of thirty people and you’ve only led a team of three people?  How will you feel?  Will you laugh from Joy, or will you cringe from apprehension?  If the answer is “cringe” why?

We know that a certain amount of fear comes with walking in uncharted territories.  But what is the main perpetrator of the worry?  Could it be that you think that you don’t have what it takes to do the job?  But is that thought correct?  Do you actually have what it takes?

Having what it takes touches many areas.

Have you ever been labeled by others who say that you don’t have the ability to complete a task; and they have no idea of your capabilities?  How do you react to these assumptions?  Do they offend you, or do you silently agree?   …What if you are misunderstood and are falsely accused by loved ones or teammates?  Will you stay connected, stay on the team; or will you sever ties?  …Has anyone ever mistaken your quietness for weakness; and treated you as if you were a pushover or a child?  How did you handle the situation?  Did you have a need to prove yourself to them and to yourself?  Or even if you’ve never experienced the above scenarios; imagine if you did.  What would your answers be?

More areas…

If you fail a course, a professional test; at a business venture; or even if you fail at love multiple times, will you try again?  If not, why?  …Perhaps a co-laborer in the Gospel sets you up to fail.  Will you continue to love and serve with them?  …What if you discover that a supposed friend is really your Judas?  Will you keep them around?  …If you were to experience a plethora of heartaches, will you withdraw into depression and bitterness; or will you keep pushing towards Joy?  Think about it.  If your answers to these questions are “yes” or “no;” the real question is “Why?”

Reflections on having what it takes…

I asked one of my dear friends the question, “Do you have what it takes?”  Without thinking twice about it; she emphatically said, “Yes!”  I asked my eldest son the question.  He chuckled, and said, “That’s good,” without answering the question.  When I think about why this question came into my spirit in the first place; multiple reasons came to my mind.  Just to name a few:  I recently had to prepare a program, and the fear of inadequacy arose.  …I thought of a man who has interests, and several feelings of fault-finding of myself came up.  …The manuscript for my book entered my mind; and along with it, the question came:  “Why would anyone want to read your book?”  And though I’ve ministered for years;  the question still arises, “Do you have what it takes?”

My friends, perhaps you are the one who knows without a shadow of a doubt that you have what it takes.  Or, to the contrary, you feel that you don’t.  Here are some encouraging points to consider:

What does it take to have what it takes?

• It takes faith in God and His Word:  When you have doubt in any area; trust God and His Word. Let the Word guide you.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”  (KJV)
• It takes love for God:  When trouble comes into your life the enemy tries to persuade you to become bitter.  He hurls out all types of accusations against God.  Especially in church.  When God has allowed one of your loved ones to die, and you hear others’ testimonies of how God spared their loved ones’ lives; it takes more than faith.  It takes love for God to withstand the warfare and tormenting taunts from the enemy.  …When God has allowed you to experience a financial crisis, and you did nothing to cause the problem; it takes more than understanding.  You have to love God to stay with Him.  …When God has permitted your heart to become crushed; you have to love God to not walk away from Him.  This reminds me of the scriptures, Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (KJV)  And Matthew 22:37 says, “And Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”  (KJV)
• It takes love for your enemies:  When the enemy uses people to mistreat and manhandle you, it takes love to keep you from retaliating.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (KJV)
• It takes courage and stamina:  When you’ve experienced repeated mistreatment by family members, coworkers, leaders on the job and in ministry; and co-laborers in the Gospel; you can stand through the mental anguish.  When you are in environments foreign to your norm, and the experts seemingly know what you don’t; let The Spirit of the Lord boost your courage with His Holy Word.  1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (KJV)  And Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strentheneth me.”  (KJV)
• It takes steadfastness:  People who don’t understand your assignment from The Lord, will try to discourage you from pursuing your dreams.  When serving God, it takes not allowing the negative comments of those who don’t serve God to persuade you into becoming lukewarm.  1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”  (KJV)
• It takes passion:  In order to continue in ministry, at maintaining a business venture, writing a book or blog, pursuing a degree or career goal; besides faith and trust in God you need to have passion.  Passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something.  Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…” (KJV)

My friends, your faith in God and His Word, and your love for God and His people will drive and hold your passion up.  Your courage and steadfastness will fuel your passion.  These joined together, along with the gifts that God has given you should cause you to say, “Yes” when asked the question, “Do you have what it takes?”

Thank you for joining me in these Monday moments of reflections.  The question is, “Do you have what it takes?”  What are your thoughts?  Join me in conversation.  I’d love to hear from you.  We’ll talk soon.

Blessings!

Rochelle