My parents used to tell me, "I'm not worried about anyone taking you and keeping you; they would bring you back because you would talk their ears off." This is just evidence that ever since I can remember I have loved to talk and be around people. Family, friends, strangers, the cashier at the grocery store, it didn't matter to me.
It came to no surprise that on the Myers-Briggs I scored off the charts on the extrovert scale. Then the world race happened.
Prior to the world race I always thought that on "tent months" that I would want to share a tent with someone so that I wouldn't have to be alone in my tent at night. But just the opposite has happened! I cherish crawling into my tent and slipping away at night by myself.
Trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are.
I questioned why the sudden change in my personality style and I truly believe that God is showing me that much of my extrovert-ness has been rooted in people pleasing. For the past 21 years I would classify myself as strictly a verbal processor. Now I can say that I am first a God processor.
I love being alone because it's in that alone time that I can take my worries, my thoughts, my dreams, my heartbreaks, my disappointments, my joys, my struggles to Jesus. I have learned to talk to Him and hear Him in ways I never thought possible.
I have learned the importance of going to Him first, taking it to Him and taking time to hear what He has to say about it before I ever address it with anyone else. Don't get me wrong-verbal processing with others isn't a bad thing, and I still do it, but only after I have heard from The Lord.
As a result of this change I am able to filter which thoughts are mine and which are The Lord's. I am able to pray through the right time to bring things up to the community I am in, or my family back in SC. I am learning that His voice is the one that I should listen to, turn to, and get my approval from. I am learning patience and trust and the truth behind James 3.
"…take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts… With the same tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness…"
Ouch. Jesus showed me that much of my "verbal processing" was a fancy word used to cover up gossip. And that gossip was about someone that is created by God's hands. Not only is that a slap in the face to the person, but to God.
I have taken a step back at things that I used to label strictly as personality traits and asked God what He had to say about it. He was faithful and showed me two lies that I had wrapped up just as part of my personality.
If He can transform this extrovert into an introvert; trust me- He can do anything. His power is limitless
I can't speak for all extroverts, but I would like to challenge everyone to ask God to search your heart. Are there sins that we have simply classified as "parts of our personality?" God alone has the power to reveal and to change.
PS: Rejoice and take heart. Perfection doesn't happen this side of heaven! When He is done with you, you'll be with Him. In the meantime praise him for continually making you new!
