Do you ever feel like you are no good or are not living up to your full potential? This is a classic effect of a fallen world that many, if not all of us, struggle with. We do not feel like we are good enough or worth as much as we could be. Of course, this is not true, but it is sometimes hard to believe the truth.
When we struggle with this belief, the story of Paul from today’s first reading can be quite consoling. Here is a man who was actively persecuting Christians. Acts chapter 9 makes it very clear that he does not only hate the Christians, but he is breathing murderous threats against them. It is pretty astounding that we read about how treacherous Paul was in the very same book that was later written by him.
In other words, God knew his full potential. Even if Paul felt that his purpose in life was to murder innocent people, God had bigger plans for him. It’s interesting to note that the invitation for Paul to live his life to the fullest came directly from God, not from anything that Paul did. No amount of self reflection or insight changed his behavior. Instead, God extended him a simple invitation.
Now, it doesn’t hurt that God also made him blind and showed him wonders beyond his wildest dreams so he would come to believe. That is Paul’s story. What is yours? What is mine? What is God calling us to that we have not yet given our yes to? I find that the best way to get out of the rut of thinking that we are not living up to our full potential is by asking God what our full potential is. We are only going to find that in Him because He gave us our potential.
During this Easter season, let’s take a moment to reflect on what more God is calling us to and how we can actively participate in the beautiful mysteries that God has placed before us. We might just come to find out that the things He has called us to will take us places we never dreamed of.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
¿Alguna vez has sentido que no eres tan bueno o que no estás viviendo a la altura de tu máximo potencial? Es un efecto clásico de un mundo decaído con el que muchos, si no todos, batallamos. No sentimos que seamos lo suficientemente buenos o que no valgamos tanto como podríamos. Por supuesto, no es verdad, pero a veces es difícil creer la verdad.
Cuando batallamos con esta creencia, la historia de Pablo en la primera lectura de hoy puede ser bastante consoladora. Aquí hay un hombre que perseguía activamente a los cristianos. El capítulo 9 de Hechos deja muy claro que no solo odia a los cristianos, sino que también los da amenazas de muerte. Es bastante asombroso que leamos sobre lo traicionero que era Pablo en el mismo libro que más tarde él mismo escribió.
En otras palabras, Dios conocía su máximo potencial. Incluso si Pablo sentía que su propósito en la vida era asesinar a personas inocentes, Dios tenía planes más grandes para él. Es interesante notar que la invitación a Pablo para vivir su vida al máximo vino directamente de Dios, no de algo que Pablo hiciera. Ninguna cantidad de introspección o pensamientos propios cambiaron su comportamiento. En cambio, Dios le extendió una invitación sencilla.
Ahora bien, no está de más que Dios también lo haya dejado ciego y le haya mostrado maravillas más allá de sus mejores sueños para que pudiera creer. Esa es la historia de Pablo. ¿Cuál es la tuya? ¿Cuál es la mía? ¿A qué nos está llamando Dios que todavía no hemos aceptado? Creo que la mejor manera de salir de la rutina de pensar que no estamos viviendo a la altura de nuestro potencial es preguntarle a Dios cuál es nuestro máximo potencial. Solo lo encontraremos en Él porque es Él quien nos dio nuestro potencial.
Durante esta temporada de Pascua, tomemos un momento para reflexionar sobre qué más Dios nos podría estar llamando a hacer y cómo podemos participar activamente en los hermosos misterios que Dios ha puesto delante de nosotros. Tal vez lleguemos a descubrir que las cosas que nos ha llamado a hacer nos llevarán a lugares que nunca hemos soñado.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Greg Rakozy, unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-photography-of-person-oMpAz-DN-9I
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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