Build Up Sweet Friends, Build Up

Pursuing your dreams can be a funny thing.

It brings up so many different emotions. We’re putting ourselves out there. Setting goals, taking risks, praying, hoping, willing those dreams to come true.

And often what happens as we lay ourselves bare in the pursuit of our dreams is that suddenly we’ve created extra space for insecurity to seep in. As if we all needed more of that right?

Recently I was deeply impacted by someone else’s insecurity. By their inability to ‘light my candle’.

It was such a very obvious slight. There was no getting around the fact that they intended to keep me down.

I’ve talked a lot lately about what happens when you’re insecurity meets my insecurity.

This time though, instead of allowing their insecurity to have power over me I did something completely counter-intuitive.

Sure, I felt hurt. I was confused and there was even a fleeting moment of anger.

But really, I just felt sad. So very sad.

For them.

Because, can you imagine what it must feel like to walk around knowing that you intentionally tried to stifle someone’s dream? That your insecurity, your inability to build up another person might hinder their success?

I think it must feel just awful.

And I could have let this situation have power over me. I could have let their insecurity meet my insecurity and wreak havoc.

But I didn’t. And friends, the only reason I was able to extend grace and forgiveness (even though this person hasn’t asked for it!) is because my Heavenly Father extends grace and mercy and forgiveness to me time and time again and He has done a mighty work in my heart to get me to this place on my faith journey.

I guess I’m writing this to you as a challenge.

My challenge to you is to build up.

Because there is room for EVERYONE to pursue their dreams! We should celebrate, encourage and come alongside each other.

I know the joy having some of my dreams coming true and I want nothing more than for others to get to experience that too.

But in the pursuit of those dreams we have to be all the more aware of how we can get in our own way. How we run the risk of our fears and insecurity not only hurting ourselves but also hurting others.

You know how they say that when you are feeling really down, forcing yourself to smile actually makes you feel better inside?

Well, I think the same is true when it comes to building others up.

Are you tempted to not say ‘congratulations’ because that person is getting an opportunity you really wanted?

Do it anyway.

Is it hard to pay that compliment because that person never gives them to you?

Do it anyway.

Do you have the opportunity to help someone along in the pursuit of their dreams but you are afraid that they’ll pass you by?

Do it anyway.

Because while it’s a guarantee that you will regret NOT helping, I promise that you will never regret helping.

So build up, sweet friends, build up!