Feedback is a pretty normal part of life, but it is usually focused on professional skills and job situations. What happens when it is focused on my faith, belief in God, actions as a Christian, or personal habits? Positive feedback is a breeze. It confirms what I know about who I am and what I’m doing. Encouraging feedback on the other hand is a usually a struggle to hear and apply to my life.
I’m not going to spend time on the whys and hows of feedback. I want to be honest. I highly dislike encouraging feedback. It’s not easy to have someone tell you what you did wrong and why. I’ve had to have pep talks with my own mind for almost every feedback in the last few months. However, the time spent taking gently correction is worth it. I’ve grown so much through the people around me that care how I live my life. They want me to be more like Jesus, so they help me learn how to do that better.
Here’s my encouragement to hose who are struggling with taking feedback or have trouble with the way the World Race feedback is structured: keep going. You will grow more than you could ever imagine! Practice listening to God, and then work until you know that you are hearing what others need to hear (even if they don’t WANT to hear it).
I’ve reached the point where I can give feedback one-on-one with people because I spend so many months having to think about it. It has taken at least four months to come to the point where I see something and give feedback right then, instead of waiting.
Here are a few verses to keep in mind as you work on this skill of feedback, positive or encouraging.
Galatians 6:1-3
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deserves himself.
Matthew 18:15-17
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
#GodIsInControl #redefiningdisciple
#THIRD
