I have a secret to admit – in a lot of areas of my life I’ve played small.
Sure, I’ve taken some risks but they’ve been very calculated. I’m the type that prefers to cautiously tip toe into the deep end instead of diving in and if I’m honest the reason why is – fear.
I’ve reasoned with myself in the past that not deciding is better than making a decision I regret but the problem with that is – not making a decision is a decision.
It’s a decision to stay in a place of indecision which frankly stinks.
I currently work as a video editor, a position I wanted to apply for but stalled for one month because I was afraid I wouldn’t be good enough. I was afraid to decide. I felt God encouraging me to apply which I ignored and the position was taken. About a month later a similar position was posted and this time I realized I better go for it and I’m glad I did.
Sometimes we are so scared to decide we say we are just “waiting on the Lord” when in reality God is waiting on us. He is waiting for us to stop being passive and to start using the wisdom He has given us to make a decision.
What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. – Job 22:28
Notice the light shines after the decision is made.
God has given us practical wisdom and the Holy Spirit and He delights in us deciding a matter. God wants to do incredible things in our lives but we can limit Him by our small thinking.
In Psalm 78:40 we see the Israelites in the desert limited what God could do for them by their disbelief.
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
It’s time we quit playing small and allowing fear to get in our way.
In 2 Kings, Jehoash King of Israel was visited by Elisha who gave him special instructions.
Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.” - 2 Kings 13:15-17
Through the word, Elisha gave the King he was telling him that the arrows were indicative of victory. Yet, the King acted hesitatingly on the next instructions he was given.
Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.” - 2 Kings 13:18-19
Jehoash’s victory was determined by what he saw for himself. Maybe he felt silly taking arrows and striking the ground, maybe he thought three would be enough, whatever reason he had for stopping he stopped short of what he could have had. He was playing small.
There is another story in the Bible where the outcome was determined by what the person saw for themselves. In this case, it was a widow who was in debt whose two sons were about to be taken into slavery. She also spoke with the prophet Elisha asking him for help.
Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one. “But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. - 2 Kings 4:3-6
Look at Elisha’s instructions he told her, “Don’t ask for just a few.” The oil flowed as long as there were jars to fill but when the jars ran out so did the oil.
God is wanting to do more in your life than you could ever imagine.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, (Ephesians 3:20 KJV)
But look at what the continuation of this verse says: according to the power that worketh in us.
We have a choice in the matter whether we will limit God by playing small or whether we will show up and be our full authentic selves. I hope you choose the latter.