Last night I went out and hit a local watering hole in effort to be social, make connections, and maybe sing a tune or two. It was a great night, although I had a sense of vulnerability I couldn’t put my finger on.

As I made my way to the car, a female bar tender and guest were outside having a smoke. The bar tender called me over, and the gal with her complimented my “performance”, and then proceeded to (at-length) tell me I was absolutely gorgeous. I sheepishly said thank you; accepting that sort of compliment…well, I’m trying to do better at just saying thank you. I’m trying to not minimize the affirmation that if I’m honest, I so desperately need but rarely receive positively once it occurs.

Think about it; it’s self sabotaging. How many times does someone have to say a kind thing to a person, and have it so readily rejected before they stop sharing their thoughts? Thoughts that we’re called to share, we NEED, to encourage each other and spur each other on?

Anyway,I did my best to graciously receive all the good she was dishing, thanking her for being a woman willing to encourage other women when they see goodness. But then she said, “I can’t explain it, you have this light, I saw it right away.” This stopped me. THIS caused me to say, “Thank you. That means more than you realize, more than anything else you just said. Light of the World: it’s who I want to be when I grow up.”

“Girl, you’re already grown. You’re there.”

Speechless.

Sometimes we “work” really hard and credit ourselves with something, and for me anyway, it immediately feels like arrogance when I allow myself to consider it to be even possibly true. Here’s the thing though: we’re all in the process of becoming, and we have a choice in our pursuit. It’s okay to know who you want to be, who you’re becoming. Critical even. If I’ve been attempting to be The Light of the World as He’s called me, and someone notices, I want to receive the feedback with joy. As encouragement that I’m on the right track, even if I feel like a complete and utter failure sometimes, with all my “lack of progress” and “I should be x by now”s.

Should. Ought. “By now”.

Gross. Incredibly dangerous words to a fragile psyche.

Change, lasting change, takes time. It’s easy to beat yourself up for “lack of progress”, but trust Him; trust that He sees the progress we don’t, and ask Him for encouragement and barometer checks along the way. Like losing weight, the progress is subtle and the setbacks in comparison so often seem insurmountable. And, much like losing weight, those we don’t stare at daily see all of the teeny accumulations as progress, even when we cannot.

We’re in the process of becoming, and we only “control” the timeline in-part. I encourage you to trust your unique journey to The One who sees the ending. He says we win. He says He’ll finish the good work He starts, and sister….you’re a work of art. Don’t forget it. And, when you do (because you will and that’s okay), ask Him for the encouragement and strength you need to pursue that next goalpost. There will always be one. You’re a masterpiece in progress. Trust it. Trust Him with your process of becoming.