Be the gift to the world God created you to be! 

Today I want to ask you a personal question: has anyone ever wounded you with harsh words?

I ask this because words can hit us hard, like nuclear missiles that explode and blow us into oblivion.

Cruel words destroy and annihilate us. Harsh words stop us in our tracks and derail our lives. And sometimes we have to stand up and challenge the words that people have spoken over us.

I’m thinking about the power of words, because yesterday I danced in public; I was part of an amateur show in the community. There’s nothing unusual about that, you might think.

But actually, it was a personal spiritual victory; it was a really big deal. Because I haven’t stood in front of a live audience and performed anything of real substance for many decades! At the age of eleven I was robbed of something really precious- my identity as a performing artist.

As a child in primary school, I was an enthusiastic little actress who loved to dance and perform in the school play. I was good at learning my lines and the teachers told me I was a great performer. Then I moved to the grammar school and my acting career came to an abrupt and painful end.

At the grammar school I was bullied in every lesson, and during every lunch break. And I can still remember how my classmates mocked, jeered and laughed in the worst possible way at my performance in the school play. It wasn’t a bit of friendly banter, but a spiteful and successful attempt at wrecking my confidence. Drama lessons became an ordeal and my teachers seemed unaware of the bullying and intimidation I experienced.

I dreaded the live performance when my fellow pupils would be sitting in the audience with their parents, smirking and giggling. And that was exactly what happened. It was truly the most humiliating day of my life (at least in my eleven-year-old mind) and I was relieved when it was all over. And I vowed that I would never act in a play or perform in front of other people in a public event ever again.

I kept that inner vow whenever the opportunity arose to join in a church or community drama. I had promised myself that I would not risk further shame and humiliation. I kept the vow throughout my twenties, thirties and forties, and even into my fifties.

But recently, God let me know it was time to reverse that decision and reclaim my identity.

A friend from my church had noticed how my feet were always tapping along to praise songs, while other people kept still. She saw how I was longing to express myself through movement, and she invited me to join a Christian dance group.

I made excuses for a whole year, but then I felt that God was urging me to join the group, because he wanted to reinstate my identity as a dance artist. So, in January I joined the group. I prayed that God would break the power of the words spoken over me in the past: I prayed for Jesus to heal my self-concept and give me the courage to dance.

Yesterday saw my first substantial dance performance: it lasted 45 minutes. And I’m not saying it was brilliant, because of course it wasn't. But that didn't matter, because I enjoyed performing, and I helped to make some people happy. There were smiles all round because we’d brought some joy into people’s everyday lives. It was a precious thing.

And now I’ve shared my story, I’d like to share a word of encouragement over your life.

If someone has spoken negatively about you in the past, please don’t wait for years to break the power of those words. Break them right now, through the power of the name of Jesus. Let God be the one who defines your identity and what you’re good at.

If he made you a dancer, a singer, an artist, or a writer, that’s what you are. If he made you a scientist, teacher, home-maker, joy-bringer, worship leader, encourager, counsellor, best friend, youth worker, children’s worker or social activist, embrace it.

And most of all, regardless of what you do, remember who you are- a dearly-loved son or daughter of the Most- High God and a pearl of great price.

Love God, love others, love yourself, and follow your God-given destiny. Don’t ever disown your real self, because of someone else’s criticisms. Be the unique gift to the world that God made you to be!