CGA Graduation took place last week. After having been part of the program since September, it’s time to move from being an apprentice (receiving teaching, discipleship, etc.) to living out what I have learned. While there were many lessons over the course of this journey, there is one that is worth setting apart.
The Power of Belief
The kind of belief I’m referring to is one person’s belief in another, which can be an incredibly powerful force. I can think of many instances where someone else’s belief in my abilities encouraged me to try something (that I wouldn’t normally try) or be more confident in my natural giftings.
Example: I used to sing with my church youth group and after a while, I stepped away. Let’s be clear, I am a decent singer, I can stay on key, and occasionally harmonize. I can also say without any self-deprecation that my voice is nothing special. While on the Race, one of my squadmates had heard me sing and recognized the gifting for what it was, a gifting. That may seem simple, but the shift that occurred in me was transformative. I found myself more willing to be bold and was more open to the possibility of failure because I had someone that believed in me.
There have been many other times in my life where the power of someone else’s belief in me spurred me on to take risks that I would not have of my own accord…CGA being the most recent and powerful example of that. The staff, my supervisor, and peers have all expressed a belief in my ability to lead, be a safe place, teach, and unite groups. As a result, I’ve grown into that belief for myself.
They say that you can tell where someone is in their spiritual journey by the fruit that is seen in their life. Does that sound biblical? Definitely. One word that I’ve heard people say about me recently is that I carry joy, which hasn’t always been the case. Because of their belief and willingness to communicate it, I’ve been able to see a transformation in the way that I live out of a place of joy, and that is an excellent testimony of the Lord’s goodness. The fruit that is being seen from living a more joyful life is very much from Holy Spirit.
Good growth and progress is being made and it is reflected in the good fruit that is being produced. I attribute this to the catalyst that the power of belief held in my life. Similarly to how a catalyst kick-starts a reaction, without the contribution of others calling me out and showing their belief, I would not be carrying the same firm belief in myself. Now, I trust what the Lord says about me. While someone else’s belief in me spurred me to greater things, it is important to note that now my belief in myself comes from my understanding of who I am in Christ. With where I started, other people definitely encouraged me, but I have since re-aligned and prioritized the weight of the belief that Christ has in me.
Since the power of belief had such a large impact on my life, it makes me want to call out similar things in others. The chance to call people to greatness, challenge them, and give them space to rise to the occasion is a gift. Think of the potential and freedom that gives others to try and fail. I’d encourage you to think about who you could push to greatness by simply expressing your belief in them.
What an incredible force, this power of belief!
