When I think about the disciples and all the faults they had, it encourages me to keep trying, even though my shortcomings can, at times, seems overwhelming. Peter for example had great zeal and spoke out boldly for the Lord, even to the point of rebuking Jesus when he talked about his coming death. Then in one of his not so greatest moments, he denies the Lord three times. Uggg. Not so bold then, was he? Then there is John. In his younger years he was zealous, intolerant, and selfishly ambitious. Seems to me that his greatest strengths were ironically the very things that caused his biggest failures. His best character qualities frequently became pitfalls for him.
Perhaps the people who know you best, those people who love you most, who seem to really care about you and about your success have seen the same tendencies in you. It would be beneficial for all of us to go to those people and gently ask them "What is my greatest strength and how do you see it causing trouble for me?" Then, just listen. Don't defend, don't rebut, don't react. Just listen. You might learn something.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Prov 27:6a
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