Do you have what it takes?

Author Heath.Stoner

This is a question that most of the men in the Honor Academy often ask. They don’t always ask people these questions, but the following questions bounce around in their heads.

Do I have what it takes to be a success?

Do I have what it takes to love God with my whole life?

Do I have what it takes to live a significant life?

Do I have what it takes to love my future wife like Christ loved the Church?

Do I have what it takes to excel in my career?

Do I have what it takes to be a strong Father?

Do I have what it takes to make enough money to take care of my family?

Do I have what it takes to be a man that people respect?

Do I have what it takes to be leave a Godly legacy?

Do I have what it takes to find a job that is aligned with my talents?

Do I have what it takes that would make a man want to become a strong encouraging catalyst friend in my life?

Do I have what it takes to make a difference in this world?

Question: What would you say to the men in the Honor Academy that ask these type of questions in their heads?

Shannon Kish

Who defines success?
Who defines what a “significant life” looks like?

And what happens or what does one say to the person who is struggling financially because of our economy?

heath.stoner

Yes, more questions that the guys may have throughout their lives.

Lisa

If something fails in your life does that mean you didn’t have what it took? (The correct answer here for all of you rather young adults is of course not!)
Does not succeeding at each of these things all the time mean you are not as worthy of something as you should be? (again of course not)

To young men I would caution you that if something goes wrong it does not mean by any stretch that you “don’t have what it takes”, or are somehow less worthy of something! If your job gets outsourced, or your wife chooses to leave remember you are still strong and still worthy and still have what it takes to be a Good man Godly father and husband. The spiritual point of that is you have what it takes because it was always inside of you imparted to you at birth. While it is good to strive for greatness be ever reminded that there are lessons in trials and all have struggles! My husband’s Godly father had his wife cheat and leave when his job was outsourced to somewhere in Asia, he was taught that he had to be perfection as much as possible in all ways and the darkness ate him alive to where he saw no way out. While it is good to strive for greatness in life remember that all struggle, Remember that Steve Jobs was FIRED from the company he founded before coming back and creating all those devices we all know so well. When you are further on your journey remember that even in the darkest part of the storm the sun will come again and after the storm the Rainbow. Peace be with each of you!

heath.stoner

Excellent!

Corrie

I would say that no human “has what it takes”. We are all in need of grace. If men at the Honor Academy are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit to become more and more like Jesus Christ then they have Him [Jesus Christ] and He is what it takes.

heath.stoner

That is a good reminder. Thank you Corrie.

Daniel

Sometimes in a young mans life these questions can begin to weigh them down. Considering their current circumstance(s): some/little education, little/no income, and no career a young man can feel that they have no chance in this world. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Many things/people who you admire probably had a menial beginning as well. The key is continually apply the simple principles that lead to a godly and disciplined life. If you are overwhelmed with how to accomplish the big goal in life that you have, STOP and focus the simple disciplines for today Prov 3:5-6

heath.stoner

This is good perspective. Thank you Daniel.

Glenn Hervieux

Dear Heath, if these are the questions running around the heads of young men at the H.A., I would hope y’all would be helping them reframe the questions. How would you answer those questions yourself as a man? I’m 54, and some of those questions raise up thoughts in me of inadequacy and guilt over not measuring up. The idea of my life being in process gets lost in, am I there yet? I don’t find the questions to have much in the way of Biblical basis.

Also, when I think of “Do I have what it takes?”, I feel the burden to make myself adequate or complete in Christ. None of us have what it takes outside the work of Christ in us. We may have some foundation, but we need to have a strong dependence on Christ to develop the qualities of godliness, character, skillfulness, etc. contained in those questions. With the knowledge that God’s love for me and his work of restoration in me…not how hard I have to work to measure up to some standard, I have the chance to “work out my salvation” knowing He is fully by my side. Then I can pursue hard after Jesus, because my desire is to be like Him and with Him in the work He is doing in my life with the assurance of His acceptance of me. Sounds like grace….God’s working in me to produce His character for His glory.

heath.stoner

Glenn–Thank you for your feedback. This post came out of a teaching I did to the men about courage. I shared with them out of I Samuel 17 and how King David was a man full of courage. I shared with them my top fears/concerns as an intern and also my current top fears/concerns as a current 37 year old man and how I interact with those concerns in my life.

I then gave the men the opportunity to come forward and share their fears. A line of men quickly formed and the first man spoke. He shared his concerns and then I had one or two men in the audience come forward and enCOURAGE the man. They spoke the word of God over those men lives.

The questions in the post came from what those men spoke up in front. It was a powerful time of the men sharing and then their brothers counteracting all of those questions with the truth of God.

For example, one of the guys said that he did not feel righteous enough or that he was still still struggling with certain vices in his life. One of the men came forward and said that God see your righteous every day. He sees it every day because your righteous is at his right hand and your righteous is Jesus Christ.

Praise God for the reality of the liberating Gospel!

Let me know if you have other questions.

Jonathan

These are all great questions and what I would say to the men at the HA is to ask yourself these questions often. The great thing is if we are committed to following Christ, obeying his commands (which directly relate to our love for him), and walking out his will…the answer to these questions will be a resounding YES. Not because we are wonderful but the word of God encourages us that with man these things are impossible but with God all things are possible. Men of the HA, keep pursuing honor and follow hard after God at all costs!