Rising to the Challenge

[image error]Today I am doing something I’ve never done before…teaching 10 to 15-year-old students how to become authors. I’ve taught adults how to write, publish and market a book for several semesters now at my local college. When the college program director asked me earlier this year if I wanted to teach a course to home school kids I said “sure, why not?” But just like the first time I taught adults (something else I never dreamed I’d do before), now that the day has arrived, I feel a little nervous. I guess that’s normal when you begin anything new, especially when it involves public speaking (which is another thing I never thought I’d do!) But I think God wants us to widen our horizons, push ourselves and rise to new challenges, especially when it comes to helping others, so that we continue to grow.

Looking back, I only ever wanted to write books. I never realized that being an author would mean being asked to speak, but once I did, I joined Toastmasters to help overcome my fear of public speaking and help me become a good speaker. And speaking led to giving workshops at writers’ conferences which led to teaching college classes on book writing which brought me to where I am today…and the Lord only knows what else is in store in the future! All I know is that I need to overcome my fears, which are just manifestations of my ego, and humbly say “yes” by being of service, and God will help me if I let Him guide me.

Still, sometimes it seems that it would be easier to just “stay inside my box” and just keep doing that with which I am comfortable…and the Monday morning feeling that all I want to do is hide under the covers and fall back asleep is strong. But then I remember Jesus’ words from the Bible: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) and “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) Hard to believe, given all of the miracles and healing He performed, that Jesus would expect his disciples to do ‘even greater things’! And of course, we are his modern-day disciples.

So I encourage us all to pray that today we can rise to the challenges before us and be open to still greater things in the future.