[Song of Solomon 1:5-6 KJV] “I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
We have been discussing making an impact for the past week in this month of miracles and testimony, and today, I want to still exhort you to believe for more, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and love always. Bitterness and anger are toxins that seek to poison your spirit. You must strive to scale above these darts of the enemy and move on in life. As we strive to make an impact, one key thing comes to the fore; relationship. I pray that you shall be admonished by these four truths. Don’t be limited by any of these things as you strive to be your best in life.
The 5 things that must not limit you are:
- Your looks and skin tone
- Other people’s opinion
- Your past mistakes
- Your childhood trauma
- What you have been through
Your looks or your skin tone
Whether black, white, coloured, colourless, or yellow, a woman is a woman. Whether tall or short; slender or curvy; skinny or fat; a woman is a woman. The woman that is to be praised has nothing to do with looks, but rather, those with attitude and the fear of God.
Other people’s opinion
Very often, people who hold mean opinions about you have never bothered to get close and find out what is really up with you and who you are. Oh yes! All they think they know is that you sleep around but they have never come close to understand what is the real truth. I have found out that if only people could take just a little interest; they will know you are not the beast they think you are. In any case, these other people I am talking about do not include your parents, guardians, sponsors, pastors, friends, and followers. As your pastor, your opinion and perception about me should matter to me. I am your pastor because you love me. There are so many other churches you could have attended, but God brought you here; your opinion must matter. If David had cared about the opinion of his brothers, he would never have fought Goliath.
Your past mistakes
If you loved your past that much, you would have continued in that lifestyle. Many of us have moved on because we have realized the error of that life. Don’t allow your past to hold you down. The woman of Samaria was not going forward in life because she allowed her past to define her. She could not talk about her past. She had been defined by an ugly past and had even altered her definition of who a husband is.
Your childhood trauma
Many of us have had eventful childhoods, and we must strive to rise above them. Many people have risen above this pain and trauma and are changing the world; don’t get stuck. So many bad traumatic things happen to all of us, but we must transform into adulthood and not allow childhood trauma to define us. Many people have risen above the pain and you can too. Anytime, you want to get stuck, think about Moses, and how he had to be abandoned as a baby and had to grow up among strangers. Think of people like Oprah Winfrey, think about the many stars you watch on TV. Many of them have had to overcome their pasts in order to step into their future.
Things you have been through
Ruth had a new life with Boaz in Bethlehem because she moved on. She did not continue to live as a widow; she lived as a new woman. We all go through things and God uses these things we have suffered and been through to teach us wisdom and to prepare us for the future. Even our Lord Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. What you are going through is meant to shape you into the woman you ought to be; don’t let it define you.
I have no doubt that you can make a great impact and a difference in life and for others. Don’t let anything stop you; you are more than able. Read our main text again and see what the Shunamite had to say.
Be blessed, I love you!
Pastor Noah Simpe Bediako
