I was laying in bed one night last week, because I couldn’t sleep and decided to watch one of my favourite movies ‘Cool Runnings’. I came across this line in the movie, which I love, and I want to share this to try and encourage you, my team and myself.
“Sanka Coffie: All I’m saying, mon, is if we walk Jamaican, talk Jamaican, and *is* Jamaican, then we sure as hell better bobsled Jamaican.”
We have spoken over the last week about expectations. The expectations of what we thought ministry, team time and team life in general would look like on the World Race. We have spoken about how easy it is to compare ourselves to other racers and other WR squads and teams, but we’ve also been teaching identity to the students over the last week; and so hearing one of my favourite lines from one of my favourite movies suddenly put it into a new light for me…
“All I’m saying, mon, is if we walk WOP (Warriors of Peace), talk WOP, and *is* WOP, then we sure as hell better do/be/live/act WOP.”
A number of times over the last two weeks I have wanted to compare myself to others, wondering whether they are having the same struggles as I am; trying to see if we are having the same great team experiences or if we are doing something ‘wrong’. It’s so easy to look at pictures of other squads and read their blogs or Facebook posts and feel that they must be having a better experience.
I have looked at my teammates and seen their strengths and wished that I had them too, I have wondered about my performance and whether or not my team sees me as being valuable or having something to offer. I know that many of us have had a big wake up call, and had expectations we didn’t even consciously know we had completely shattered.
But, then the Lord has been speaking to me about a spirit of envy…and this is where I want to try to encourage myself and everyone reading this.
One of the fastest ways of discouraging yourself and getting trapped by the sin of envy is when you compare yourself to others. God has a specific plan for you and you won’t accomplish that plan by looking at others.
Count your blessings and not the blessings of someone else. Let God control your life and give Satan no opportunity to discourage you from the purpose God has for you. Know that all you need is Christ. Set your mind at peace by focusing on the Lord.
We might not understand why things work out the way they do, why we are put into certain situations, but God does.
I was so encouraged by the movie because it reminds me of the importance of being true to who you are. Just like the Jamaican team realized that they had to be true to who they were and not to try and imitate the Swiss team, so we (WOP) need to realise the importance of being true to who we are and not try to imitate anyone else. And the same is true to each and every one of you reading this.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
