There’s an image in my mind that I just can’t shake …
While at Disney a few months ago, I was waiting patiently on the sidelines while my girls were on a whirly-twirly ride my aging stomach couldn’t handle. And because I’m a people watcher through and through, I didn’t mind at all!
I thoroughly enjoy watching all the comings and goings-on. But on this day one family in particular caught my eye …
I’d been through the same situation numerous times, and found myself smiling as I watched a familiar scene unfold. The dreaded measurement. Who’ll be tall enough to ride?
One sibling was, but the youngest didn’t quite measure up.
It struck me immediately, and I haven’t been able to shake the thought … how many of us feel we don’t measure up … in many of the things we do? As a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a Christian, a student, an artist … a writer.
My hand is raised.
But you know what?
Over the years I’ve had to watch my own girls at that dreaded amusement park measuring stick, not quite making the mark … disappointed and sometimes in tears as they watched their sisters walk onto the coveted ride while they had to wait until they measured just right.
It’s for their own safety after all.
But in the midst of their disappointment, I was able to encourage them with a very real truth … “you WILL one day make the mark … you just need to grow.”
So as we watch others around us making their mark as bloggers, speakers, writers, leaders, and encouragers … I wonder if God’s not saying the same thing to us, “Dear child, one day you WILL make the mark … you just need to grow.” And maybe it’s even for our own safety.
As for those other things … the wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, Christian thing … let me encourage you with these thoughts … Psalms 139:14 says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works.” {NASB}
I’m singing over and over these lyrics from the Sanctus Real song, Forgiven, “When I don’t measure up too much in this life, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ.”
We are special because we are God’s creation! When we begin to think we don’t matter to anyone else, we need to remember we matter to Him … we are precious in His sight!
Dear friends, we are His treasure! He is at work in our lives … He’s growing us and preparing us for “such a time as this.”
“We are special because we are God’s creation! When we begin to think we don’t matter to anyone else, we need to remember we matter to Him … we are precious in His sight!”
Beautiful reminder!
What a great analogy!!
Love your analogy here, it paints such a vivid picture of God’s appointed time for us as His children. I had these same thoughts on Sunday as I pondered verses from Romans 8. That He proportions grace and faith to each one of us according to His purposes. That it is futile to compare ourselves. Lovely post, written so well.
What I have come to realize is that I am too focused on measuring up, and instead should be looking at the measuring stick. Whose stick is it? I can never measure up on my own, but as a child of God I have already surpassed the mark. We “have been saved;” past tense.
i cling to that verse in the song. when no one else thinks i am, even me, especially me, He considers me treasure. and little by little i begin to believe it. xoxo
Psalm 139 is a passage in the Bible that the Lord repeatedly brings me back to…I struggle with self worth and well, thanks for being the vessel that confirmed I need to meditate on it, yet some more!!
Beautiful words, Tracie. This is so true and I love how you just envelope truth here..I enjoy reading what you write!
Tracie, in the measuring stick called inspiration you are taller than you can imagine. You bring wisdom to those in need of believing in God and in themselves. It is a gift…and due to it you measure up quite nicely in both the eyes of God and in the eyes of those whose lives you touch. Thank you for today’s lovely message.
“So as we watch others around us making their mark as bloggers, speakers, writers, leaders, and encouragers … I wonder if God’s not saying the same thing to us, “Dear child, one day you WILL make the mark … you just need to grow.” And maybe it’s even for our own safety.”
Just what I needed to hear today! God has different plans for each of us. When He says we’re ready, we will make the mark…and it may very well be in a different way from someone else.
Beautiful post Tracie!
In Christ,
Laura
These words ring in my heart today, loud and clear. I often find myself measuring who I am, what I do, by the strides of others. Thank you for reminding me that God always has perfect timing for when I will make my mark in this world!
Hi Tracie,
Lovely post full of encouragement. I wonder, what exactly is the measure of a blog or as a writer? Perhaps by being faithful to post for His glory and the sharpening of fellow sisters in Christ we are already measuring up to what God is calling us to do.
Popularity is not the measuring stick of Christ. When it comes to blogging, I am constantly wondering what is.
Thoughtful post that has me thinking. Thank you!!!
Brooke
Love, love this.
Oh I so like your message today! Subtle and yet to the point!
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Thank you SO much for this encouraging post. I stumbled on it quite by accident. I was having a really rough morning, and was researching pictures for “measuring up.” Something I feel like I’m not doing right now. The picture caught my eye on a google search, and voila! I found myself at your blog! Thank you for the refreshing reminder that we can’t grow to full maturity in one moment’s time. It is a journey, sanctification, and we’re all at different points in our walk with Christ. :)
Liz
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