Who Am I, Really? Discovering the You God Had in Mindಮಾದರಿ

What if the greatest threat to your destiny isn’t external? What if it’s the parts of you that refuse to grow?

I often think of a gifted leader who reached out for coaching but never quite became my client. He was the international director of a fast-growing nonprofit, responsible for overseeing operations across Africa while coordinating with teams in Europe and the Americas. His schedule was brutal – constant deadlines, late-night calls across time zones, and mounting pressure from all directions.

His blood pressure had spiked. He’d picked up smoking again after years of quitting. Sleep was elusive, so he turned to nightly shots of spirits to calm his racing thoughts. He was desperate for help.

We scheduled a session after my return from a family trip. But when I didn’t hear back from him, I followed up through a mutual friend only to learn that he had suffered a nervous breakdown. He returned to his home country for treatment and never resumed his role. What began as a temporary sabbatical ended in early retirement.

This man was brilliant and deeply committed to the cause, but talent and passion are not enough. Your calling requires maturity and a lifestyle that can sustain the weight of your God-given purpose.

Scripture gives us sobering examples of what happens when character lags behind calling:

• Moses couldn’t enter the Promised Land because of an unresolved anger issue (Numbers 20:11–12).
• Solomon allowed his heart to drift into idolatry, leading to a divided kingdom (1 Kings 11:4).
• David fell into adultery, deception, and murder during a season of idleness (2 Samuel 11:1–2).
• Samson sabotaged his calling through compromise and indulgence (Judges 16:19–20).
• Elijah, emotionally spent and isolated, withdrew too soon from his prophetic mission (1 Kings 19:13 – 18).

Each of these biblical figures was called and gifted by God, but their unaddressed blind spots, unchecked appetites, and lingering character flaws became barriers to the fullness of their assignment. Calling without character is a heavy burden. You might start the journey, but finishing it well requires intentional growth.

The same is true for you. The current version of you, though deeply loved by God, is not yet fully prepared for everything He wants to do through you. That’s not a criticism; it’s an invitation to grow.

Peter reminds us to "make every effort" to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love to our faith, because these qualities keep us from being ineffective and unproductive (2 Peter 1:5–8). And in Hebrews 5:14, maturity is described not as automatic, but something developed “by constant use.”

Ask God to show you where you need to grow. Do you need to develop emotional boundaries? Healthier habits? More rest? Deeper intimacy with Him? Greater consistency or self-control? Let Him shape you into someone who can not only carry the weight of your calling but thrive under it.

PRAYER
Lord, I don’t want to miss what You’ve prepared for me. Show me where I need to grow and give me the humility and courage to say yes to transformation. Help me build the habits, maturity, and strength needed to finish well. I trust You to shape me into the person my purpose requires. Amen.

Tomorrow, we’ll explore what truly matters in the end and how you can live with eternity in mind, starting now.