Have you ever met a young couple who almost immediately after getting married think they are sages on everything about marriage? This is actually one of my pet-peeves. For the longest time, I have believed that young married couples (myself included) are inexperienced and have nothing to offer when it comes to giving marriage advice. Similarly, I have applied this principle to many aspects of my life. Sometimes, I have shied away from certain opportunities because I feel I am not old enough or experienced enough.

This weekend, I read a children’s mystery story, the Jones & Parker Case Files. The story of sealed safe really inspired me to think differently about my giftings and abilities in relation to my age. In the story, Emily Jones and Matthew Parker are kid detectives who help Dr. Graham solve the mystery of the missing codes to get into a safe. As the case unfolds, Dr. Graham, says, “I shouldn’t have doubted you just because you are young.” The story ends with this scripture from 1 Timothy 4:12:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (NIV)

This is one of Paul’s many words of advice to young Timothy: Do not let anyone think less of you because you are young. He further encourages, even though you may be young and inexperienced, you can still be an example in the way you talk and behave, in how you love, exercise your faith, and demonstrate purity. This verse prompted me to examine areas in my life. I realized that I have disqualified myself because of my own perceptions. My internal dialogue has contributed to this disqualification. There are two pieces of encouragement I have gleaned from this scripture which I share with you:

1. In this new year, I know that there are great plans that God has in store for each of us. Many of these plans may require putting yourself out there. You might need to tread in unfamiliar territories. I want to encourage you to not disqualify yourself even before the race has started. Do not look down on your abilities by letting your inadequacies be louder. Seek to live in the reality of all that God has in store for you. Do not let the voices of naysayers or your self-doubt be louder than God’s purpose for your life.
2. Set an example for others by how you live this year. Whether it is in what you say, what you do, or how you go about your daily practices of life, be an example to others both old and young. What ever you do, do it well, in such a way that people will want to exemplify you in those aspects. When we think of our heroes and people we admire, our minds don’t go to their shortcomings. Rather, we picture the things about them that we love. We think about aspects we might want to emulate. Or, we remember what endears them to us. One of the ways we are able to rise above the voices of nay-sayers, our inadequacies, fears, and self-doubt, is to live a life worthy of emulation. When you do, there will be very little reason for people to look down on you.

As we start this year, my prayer for you is that God will lead you to places and spaces in your life you could have never imagined. May God give you vision to dream beyond your current abilities. May God increase your faith to anticipate the greatness He has in store for you. And may God hasten the day when your faith is sight! Welcome to 2025.

Yours truly.