“Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.” (Isaiah 54:2-3 NKJV)

This past week, I watched a bible study titled, “Grow into It” by Pastor Joel Tudman, Associate Minister of The Potter’s House, Dallas, TX. Pastor Tudman lectured from scripture 1 Samuel 2:18-19 which declares, “But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. Moreover, his mother used to make him a little robe, and bring it to him year by year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.” This scripture tells of how Hannah, Samuel’s mother, would make him a robe and take it to him during their annual visit. Pastor Tudman questioned how would Hannah know what size Samuel would be if she only saw him once a year. He explained that through his studies, he discovered that Hannah purposely made the robe too big knowing that eventually Samuel would grow into it.

As I listened to Pastor Tudman, I recalled the conversation I recently had with my fellow writers in our Focused Writers Membership Community where I candidly shared my insecurities of public speaking. While listening to Pastor Tudman, I had an “aha” moment! I correlated public speaking to Samuel’s oversized robe —being comfortable with public speaking is not a perfect fit right now; therefore, I will have to stretch myself and grow into. For some strange reason, comparing public speaking to an over-sized robe reduced my fears.

In an October 2015 article title, “Four Ways to STRETCH YOURSELF to Achieve Your Goal,” Ron Broussard states, “It’s not about the accomplishment of a goal but the process in what we become as we strive towards achieving a goal.” Broussard offers four ways to stretch yourself through the effective management of you:

1. Learn followership. Surround yourself with people who have the same ambitions and goals and learn from them.
2. Develop self-discipline. We are responsible for our own actions and decisions. To consistently make good decisions and right actions, while refraining from wrong actions, requires self-discipline.
3. Practice patience. Fully engage in the moment with no perceptions or expectations. Ensure you do everything in focus and in the moment and do not worry about the next step until it is time to take that step.
4. Be accountable. When you effectively manage yourself, not only are you being honest with yourself, you know your strengths and inadequacies and whether or not you can trust yourself to move to the next step in achieving your goals. Lack of accountability will lead to problems that will filter into every aspect of your life.

Many years ago, I had a vision of writing a book, but that dream seemed so far out of reach. In retrospect, I realized that I needed more experiences: more heartache, more loss, more disappointment, more joy, and more peace before I could write a book. These experiences would allow me to grow into my “robe.” While growing, I was writing a monthly inspirational blog offering encouragement and insight from those personal experiences. I am proud to say that my first published book titled Sandpaper & Pearls will be released this fall.

Do you have a “robe” that is too big for you? Could it be writing a book or blog, creating your own YouTube channel, seeking higher education, becoming an entrepreneur or motivational speaker or could it be becoming debt free or better organized? Whatever, your over-sized “robe” is, I challenge you to stretch yourself—take a chance on YOU and do it! Remember, Hannah made Samuel a robe every year so that he would grow into it. Like Samuel, we constantly have to stretch ourselves and grow so we may take the next step in achieving our goals.

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