In Dare to Begin Again (Whitaker House, 2018), I tell the embarrassing story of getting a beautiful diamond ring stuck on my finger at a local jewelry store. After tugging and twisting and turning it, pretending I was admiring the bling as I held my hand in the air to let the blood drain out of that finger, I finally admitted to the clerk that the bobble was stuck. Or I was.
The truth is we all get stuck sometimes. Maybe you feel like you should be further along by now. As hard as it might be to believe, you are not alone. Even some of the greatest heroes in the Bible experienced great failures. Many were stuck once too.
— The man at the Pool of Bethesda was stuck in paralysis.
— Joseph was stuck in a pit.
— Moses’ mother was stuck in grief.
— Hannah was stuck in sadness.
— The Samaritan woman at the well was stuck in habit.
— Peter was stuck in fear.
— Mary was stuck in loss.
— Paul was stuck in prison.
Just as with these biblical heroes, God is developing greatness in you. He sees past your circumstances and views you as His priceless creation. He digs you out of the dirt and picks you out of the crowd. He dusts off your crust and grime and artfully cuts away your flaws. He transforms you into a unique and useful, polished gem. This does not happen overnight, but with each season of struggle and fear of the unknown, God is consistently whittling away your rough edges.
If you dare to believe and recognize His hand in the process, fear and hesitation will be replaced by faith and determination. {eoa}
Rosalinda Rivera is outspoken and passionate about helping others change their lives and accomplish their dreams. She is an author and sought-after speaker. “Pastor Rosa” is also associate pastor of New Life Outreach Church in Richmond, Virginia, and executive director of New Life for Adults and Youth, Mercy House and Mercy Moms House, a place for single mothers to find hope and healing. Rosalinda has been reaching out to families in crisis, poverty and hopelessness for over 25 years. Rosalinda has been a featured presenter and ministered across the U.S. and throughout the world. From the White House to the local community, Rosalinda is nationally recognized for her impact in bringing hope to the hopeless. Rosalinda was appointed to the Board of Governors of the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
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