Separating the Lies from the Truths
People much too often say things that simply aren’t true.
Whether they say those things out of fear, insecurity, jealousy, or just because they’re plain rude does not really matter.
It matters that we have the ability to differentiate and separate lies from truths.
I am confident that at one point or another we have all experienced some type of discriminatory or demeaning behavior.
I never want to make it seem as though one type is less harmful or decimating than another.
What I am seeing is that with every level, with every increase in your own life, there are other people, and possibly more people, who are trying to tear you back down.
What do you do?
I’m all for being proactive but we cannot control others, that’s impossible.
I’ll start by sharing just a few of the things that people have said over the years to me and then go into some of the things that have worked well for me to repel those lies and focus on my truths.
People said all of the following to me, some things more than others but these are the things that have stuck with me and kept me focused on my truths.
Here are the lies people have said about me:
“You are just skin and bone.”
“You can never do that.”
“You will never get a girl.”
“You are not good enough.”
“You will never get to that level.”
And so much more. That’s what has stuck with me.
I know who I am.
God said to Jeremiah in the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” — Jeremiah 1:5
In the same way, God knows me, God knows you, and God knows everyone.
We were all created uniquely and for a GREAT purpose.
Each purpose is equal in the eyes of God — it matters how well we carry it out.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived the greatest street sweeper’” — Martin Luther King Jr.
“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.” — Roy T. Bennett
I challenge us to do the same for ourselves.
Listen to your strengths and weaknesses.
Listen to what continues to come into your mind.
Listen to the people around you and what they say about you.
Listen to everything that you do through your actions.
Then UNDERSTAND WHY.
If we are not able to understand why then it’s all for nothing.
Remember, God knows everything because everything you are is something that He placed within you. God knows you better than you know yourself.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” — King Solomon
Never be the fool that you are walking with. Become wise as God is wise and implants wisdom within you when you ask for it.
“Stop thinking wishfully and start living hopefully.” — Emelie Barnes