Only one thing can stop you from becoming you: YOU.
Circumstances, people, social media, your bank account, your job, health, and relationship status don’t determine your identity. They’re a part of your story—they’re not YOU.
What if the one thing holding you back from becoming the person you dream of being is your belief… whether you believe you can or can’t BE you?
I’ve been there.
I’ve wrestled with disappointment.
I’ve been angry & asked God tear-filled questions.
I’ve been hurt by people I trusted.
I’ve felt forgotten, unworthy, unwanted, not enough, and too much.
I’ve felt out of control, and, at times, like I’m trying to grasp control too tightly.
I’ve felt depleted.
And I think, as a result, I’ve been dreaming too small.
One Home-Goods-run-kinda-day at the end of 2021, I saw a coffee mug inscribed she believed she could so she did. I’m the last person who needs another coffee mug, but this mug found its way to my home. Something about this warrior inscription invited me to mark a moment closing the chapter of one year and stepping into the next with the grace and gumption required to step out a little more boldly, a little more daringly, open to what God is doing inside this warrior heart of mine…
Fast-forward to this month, February 2022, and God is AWAKENING my warrior heart to who He designed and purposed me to be in a fresh way. He’s challenging me to believe fully, dream bigger, and not settle for less than His very best for my life, my becoming story.
To fully live out all God has entrusted me with, it became crystal clear to me that I needed to establish a morning and evening rhythm—consistent times to grow and become who God made me to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. I love tangible reminders to be who God made me to be, and I knew my new coffee mug was the perfect first-thing-in-the-morning reminder when 5:30am was going to feel too early and the snooze button would sound too inviting; so, I set my alarm for 5:30am and set my she believed she could so she did mug next to my coffee maker, ready for that morning caffeine and visible warrior reminder.
One morning in the midst of this new rhythm, looking at this warrior reminder on my coffee mug, it dawned on me—somewhere along the way my unmet expectations planted a seed of disbelief in my heart, inviting me to believe lies and dream small about who I can be.
I’m so thankful for Mark 9:23-24,
“‘If you can’?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Mark 9:23-24
God met me at 5:30am and revived my belief, reminding me I can become everything He designed me to be if I’ll just believe, trusting Him with every step… it’s this belief, this foundational trust in my Creator, that is fueling my dreams.
Around the same time of launching this morning and evening rhythm, I came across a local boutique, Rise & Wrangle Co., sharing beautiful initial necklaces. At first glance, I absolutely loved the necklace; but, thinking I didn’t necessarily need it, I went on my way… but I kept thinking about that necklace.
One Wednesday, Rise & Wrangle Co. updated their Instagram Story sharing there were only a few initial necklaces left—and just like that December day in Home Goods, something about this necklace struck me differently, inviting me to mark yet another moment, a marked moment of stepping into BELIEVING I am who God says I am and DREAMING BIGGER than I’ve been dreaming. I immediately messaged Rise & Wrangle Co.’s Instagram asking if they had any letter “bs” left in stock, to which they replied one! I purchased that initial “b” necklace on-the-spot, my tangible reminder to BE who God made me to be, to never give up on BECOMING the Emily that He uniquely designed me to be.
I am so thankful for and love how God used two tangible reminders—a coffee cup and a necklace—to spark an awakening in my warrior heart to BELIEVE trusting Him, DREAM BIG, to BECOME who He made me to be all along.
My belief fuels my dreams. When I walk rooted in trusting God, believing Him to do what only He can do, my warrior heart soars with dreams far beyond my wildest imagination. Forever one of my favorite Scriptures in this becoming journey is Galatians 6:4-5,
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
Galatians 6:4-5, The Message
God’s Word gives us the blueprint for becoming who He designed us to be… for believing and trusting Him fully and dreaming the biggest dreams possible:
(1) Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given.
Explore and discover who God uniquely made you to be—ask Him who He designed you to be! If you don’t have a relationship with God, email me… I’d be honored to introduce you. The only way to truly know who we are is to first know Whose we are.
Talking with God, ask yourself: who do I want to be? Grab a journal and dream big… what are you passionate about? What makes you laugh until you cry? What breaks your heart? When you were a kid, who did you want to become?
Ask a few trusted warrior friends what they see in you—sharing what you’re good at, how you encourage them. Perhaps they’ll share something that’s just so “you” you don’t even realize it!
(2) …and then sink yourself into that.
Becoming is warrior work. And I’m learning my belief and my dreams are tied to my being ALL IN… here’s what I know to be true: I believe the things I’m ALL IN on. I believe the color purple is the best color ever, and, therefore, I’m ALL IN on loving all things purple. I believe coffee tastes the best first thing in the morning, and therefore, I’m ALL IN on savoring a cup of coffee every morning… What we believe we’re all in on.
Do you believe you can become who God made you to be? Sink yourself into that.
(3) Don’t be impressed with yourself.
I can’t become me on my own. My becoming is 100% dependent upon walking rooted in Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Warrior friend, I’ve tried to pull myself up and do it on my own… and every, single time, I’m never satisfied. My only satisfaction comes from Jesus. When I finally tip in to BELIEVING and trusting Him fully, He is the One filling my heart with satisfaction, dreams, passion and purpose for becoming me.
(4) Don’t compare yourself with others.
The fastest way to get sidetracked and derailed from becoming you is to look at how they’re becoming and compare your journey to theirs. Learn from other warriors, but don’t compare or try to be them. There’s only one YOU. BE YOU.
(5) Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
I began this blog post with the truth that only one person can stop you from becoming you: you. Only you can decide if you’re going to believe God at His Word, and allow your belief in Him to fuel your dreams… and in turn your every step in becoming you… it’s up to you.
Warrior friend, what unbelief has crept into your heart? What lies are you believing? It’s time to BELIEVE again. It’s time to trust God and BE who He made you to be.
Encouragement from my warrior heart to yours: mark this moment. Declare with everything in you you’re choosing to be who God made you to be. And put something visible to remind you on the good days and the not-so-good days to be you… maybe it’s a coffee mug or a necklace; perhaps it’s a bracelet, a sticker, a sticky note with a written reminder, or a phone screensaver… mark this moment… and choose to be who God made you to be!
I’m cheering you on and want to equip you to BE YOU. Leave a comment or email me if you’re ready to believe you can BE all God made you to be. I’ll be following up with a warrior step, a resource designed for us, this Becoming Me Tribe. I believe I can become me. I believe you can become you too!
