“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:13
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Olympic triathlete Katie Zaferes surprised even herself while competing at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She hadn’t automatically qualified for the Olympics and was picked for the final U.S. team spot by a selection committee. Honored to be at the Games and eager to make her selection worthwhile, Zaferes won a bronze medal in the individual triathlon and a silver in the inaugural mixed relay event.
After her individual result, she spoke to the press about her journey and the mental shifts she had employed in her approach leading up the the Games. She said that earlier in her career, “I was focused on my limitations. I forgot my strengths. Now, when I race, I think, ‘Let’s see what I can do,’ rather than, ‘This is what I need to do.’”
How many times in our own personal life-race do we focus so much on the things holding us back — complicating or distracting us, the weaknesses inside us we can’t escape, the challenges being thrown at us — that we lose sight of our strengths, and even more, God’s strength? The stuff that’s making life hard for us seems so consuming that we forget the simple truth that “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” (Romans 8:11).
Upon our conversion, God puts His transforming and igniting power within us to overcome our challenges, fix our eyes on Him in the distractions, have grace for our flaws, and push through the barriers that life puts in our way. This doesn’t mean things will always go exactly according to our plans or wants, but we are no longer operating out of a limited mindset, powerless to effect change in our lives, attitudes or situations. Like Zaferes, we are now empowered to switch up our approach to things and go into them with the attitude of seeing what we’re made of and can do, how Christ’s strength will be perfected in us and how He will work, instead of feeling the drudgery or limitations of the situation.
Part of doing life with Jesus is realizing that the Gospel sets you free from limiting beliefs and lies about life, yourself, others and God. Any boxes of the past that have kept you from expanding your understanding, taking risks, or living and loving large are now blown apart as God asks you to accept His new way of doing things: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Come see and do life in a new and different way, bring your expectations and limitations and give them to Him, and let Him stretch you in ways that will only make you better and more like Him. Run with the power God gives you, and put on the new self that is His image.
Instead of getting discouraged or frustrated at limitations, focus on the strengths and positives God has already put within you and your life. You’ll be amazed at how this simple adjustment changes your approach, just as it did for Zaferes.
— Katherine Singer
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