Our Greatest Fear
June 21st, 2010 | 
Author: Here is a different perspective than most of us have received as Christians:
Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
–Marianne Williamson from her book A Return to Love
Your thoughts?….
Posted in 3 Responses to “Our Greatest Fear”
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Or said another way “go out and do something for God”
Hey Bob, thanks for commenting… but I’m a little confused about what you meant. Care to elaborate?
I think what the author is speaking to is a tendency of Christians towards false humility. We are so afraid of pride that we often can’t acknowledge or credit ourselves for what strengths, gifts, talents God gave us and it often leads to an under use of those abilities for His kingdom.
Or sometimes it may be that we just rob ourselves of the enjoyment of some facet of how God created us. I know a woman who is naturally slim. She eats well but she doesn’t starve herself or even work hard exercising to keep her weight down. But she feels bad all the time when she is around others who are struggling with their weight. She is always afraid she is going to make them feel bad about themselves. She can’t enjoy or appreciate her slim figure– something God gave her, because of how it might make others feel.
I think every aspect of beauty, talent or gifting is a reflection of God, since we were made in His image, and we should own and enjoy all that He has made without shame or fear.