We Have What We Need

In soccer, speed is a clear advantage when two players are chasing after the ball. Unfortunately for me, I was never the fastest on my team. I constantly found myself at the end of races during practice and being blown by a quick-footed forward during a game.

For my whole career, I longed to be faster. I did speed work with a trainer and ran sprints after practice, but nothing I did gained me the speed I desired. In the end, I had to accept that I have what I need for who I am. When I quit focusing on an athletic ability that I couldn’t change, I focused on those I could. Instead of magically gaining speed on the field, I found ways to stay ahead of my opponent mentally and physically so their speed wasn’t a factor when we were playing each other. When I accepted what type of player I was, I could start focusing on improving what I could and not what I couldn’t.

The Lord gives us what we need, not what we want. We may want to look a certain way and have certain physical or personality traits we see in others. We may desire to be smarter, funnier and more athletic. God gives us what we need, and when we quit trying to change the things we can’t about ourselves, we see He is trying to lead us down the right paths for ourselves and our talents.

We spend so much time fighting for who we think we should be or who the world says we should be. Why don’t we try accepting the excellent and unique way that God made us and open our eyes to see that He is trying to show the amazing life He has planned for us?