I want to share a personal, and very transparent, experience with you that I’ve been learning slowly, and for a long time, in my walk with Jesus.

HIDING WHO YOU ARE BRINGS CHRIST ZERO GLORY.

For most of my life success of any kind has brought a wave of pain along with it. The pain of rejection, the pain of being misunderstood, or even the pain of being an outcast of some sort.

After Jesus, even as I would navigate in churches trying to find a space to use my gifts and bring God glory, I would hear things like, “There are no celebrities here,” or “Women can’t lead, etc.” In some cases, people no longer seemed friendly. I could sense an underlying spiritual battle.

In small rooms, those arrows get pretty pointed. The devil is a mastermind at archery. He knows where to aim to cause you to sit down on the job Christ has called you to.

Add the fact that you’re a woman and let me tell you, it can be super disheartening on every front. I can see why Paul was urging the disciples to “Help these women!”

I am not, nor have ever been any type of celebrity. I wanted to be when I was a little girl, but then I met Jesus and everything changed. Now, I merely use music albums and other media tools to share Christ in the way that He has gifted me.

Any success I have had in any arena I began, at some point, to keep quiet-and hide. Therefore, I chose the path of the least resistance. I decided to quietly do what I do. Just me and Jesus. Trying really hard not to cause any waves.

Soon I found it harder and harder to be joyful in God’s gifts to me. In some ways, I couldn’t even receive them into my own heart.

It sounds really spiritual to hide oneself. It sounds “humble.” It sounds “meek.”

I’m finding none are true. It’s a deception of the worst kind. It’s a rejection of The Christ in you. A keeping of Him all to yourself. When you hide YOU, you also hide HIM.

The devil is systematic in causing you to go into hiding. He doesn’t mind using people you know either. That friends, is a true test of your loyalty. “Them or Him.”

What I’ve learned since is that “anything Jesus” tends to bring some heat. Whether it is outside, or inside, the body of Christ.

The Lord tenderly began to show me how I would “dumb down” myself in front of others. Here are a few examples that, hopefully, will help you.

For the longest, I never told anyone I had an MBA. I thought it would diminish my impact in ministry or that it would sound like I was boasting. So, I hid it.

I stopped using my gifts in many places convinced I should let others occupy that space so no one would think I was trying to “show off” in some way. So, I hid.

This past week the Lord made a way for my writing and publishing to be recognized. I hid it for weeks convincing myself it was insignificant, and I should not make a big deal about it. (20+ years in ministry but the devil knows past pains y’all.)

Then Jesus came and asked me why I would not receive His gift in a possible platform that would bring Him honor. I was wrecked. I had to repent.

Both categories I have been nominated in are the manifestation of Ephesians 3:20 for me and Jesus. It is my very life verse. “He will do more than you could ever think or imagine…”

I never asked to be a writer or a publisher. It was merely His choosing for me. I had no skill. No natural ability. No experience. No organizational backing of any kind. No funding. There was no degree or training. Nothing.

Yet, this life I’ve lived with Christ has taken me into unseen adventures step by step. I am a living example of His supernatural work in an ordinary person.

Your road will be different from mine but no less glorious should you choose to go with Jesus. Some of who YOU are is still hidden to you. Only Christ, Himself, knows what He has placed in you. In order to find it, you’ll have to seek Him.

Learn from my mistakes, friends. Know that I have gone before you and today I am reaching back to say this:

Hiding who He is in you will bring Him zero glory. There is nothing admirable about it so don’t be deceived by the serpent. Don’t “dumb yourself” down to be accepted in certain circles. Those planted by God will be safe for you and they will celebrate, and cheer on, the Jesus in you.

And-remember this:

“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… (Matthew 5:14)