How to Flip the Script!

Dear Writer, I hope you had a fantastic week and were encouraged in your writing journey! Now, every journey has its sweet spots and its difficult moments. This week, we’re going to explore how to flip the script on the challenges we face in order to overcome!

You see, we were each created with a unique design. That design is part of what makes our writing valuable and our voice irreplaceable. However, our enemy routinely attempts to leverage that uniqueness against us. This is why it’s critical to recognize the difference between divine delays and enemy attack, so we know when to push through and when to wait.

But before we get started, let’s look at some others whose ability to flip the script catapulted them into their destiny…

Flip the Script in History

Theodore Roosevelt began life as a sickly child with weak lungs. But instead of letting that situation define him, Roosevelt’s father pushed him into sports to increase his strength and lung capacity. Later after marriage, when Roosevelt’s wife and mother suddenly died, he retreated to the wilderness of the Dakotas to recover. Roosevelt returned from that wild frontier stronger than ever. 

In both cases, the very things meant to slow him down catapulted him into destiny as the strong leader and rugged outdoorsman whose legacy impacts our nation today.

Flip the Script in the Bible

Peter is a great example of a man whose weaknesses were turned to strength. Peter is well known for his bold and impetuous devotion to Christ. After all, this was the disciple who cut off a man’s ear in Jesus’ defense and who boldly stepped out onto raging waves to answer Jesus’ call. But that same boldness that failed him before Jesus death became Peter’s great strength once empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

On the day of Pentecost alone, Peter’s quick action and bold sermon saved over 3,000 souls. And that was just the beginning!

You see, writer, sometimes what we see as weakness is meant to become a strength when it’s surrender into the Lord’s hands for His use and purposes.

Flip the Script in Life

I discovered a childhood weakness was actually an area strength as God led me into ministry. As a child, I was quickly convinced that I lacked people skills and was easily misunderstood. As God slowly led me into writing, speaking, and teaching, I realized, in reality, He’d specially gifted me to help others understand His words and truth. But here’s the thing…

Our enemy also recognized that gifting and worked hard in my early years to convince me that I was terrible at the very thing God had designed me to do. And here’s the deal…

Flip the Script in Your Life

Often the things we fear in life, or our areas of weakness, are places God intends to use to powerfully minister to others. Because here’s what I’ve come to realize: obstacles come in a few common varieties. They are…

1. Real obstacles God intends to overcome by His grace, like with Roosevelt.
2. Personality quirks meant to be strengths when empowered by His Spirit, like with Peter.
3. Lies God intends to replace by His truth, like with me.

The common denominator? God intends to overcome every obstacle to His call for us with His grace and truth by the power of His Spirit if we will willingly follow Him. Let me prove it to you…

• • What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:31-37
  • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
  • Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 48:21
  • But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

For every obstacle that besets us, God has prepared a path to overcome. Because here’s the thing: God never calls us to a work that He will not willingly help us complete. But the key to success lies in our relationship with Him.

You see, all wisdom, power, and strength to overcome—even redirection and correction—flows from our living and abiding in Him. That’s why Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 

As we lean into Him, His grace supplies all we need. And the beautiful thing is that as we partner with Him to flip the script on the enemy, His transforming power can invade the lives of others, too.

Where to Start with Flipping the Script

So do you want to flip the script on what’s held you back? Here are some things to keep in mind…

1. 1. Let God Define You. In order to flip the script on the way life or the enemy has held you back, you have to be willing to let God define you rather than your current circumstances, you personal performance, or your preferences. What has God clearly spoken to you? Prayerfully take some time to recall and write down anything God has said about you and your writing life. Also, be open to what He might be saying now! If different people have all said you are gifted to do a certain thing, it’s highly likely God is trying to get your attention.
   2. Renew Your Mind. Take time to imagine your life as God has defined it. Find scriptures that support His picture of your life and meditate on them. I encourage you particularly to study and meditate on scriptures that address areas where you know you struggle to accept His version of you. This is one way to draw on His strength to overcome.
   3. Recognize the Enemy’s Attack. In order to flip the script, we have to recognize life’s obstacles for what they are. It can be tempting to assume obstacles are God’s redirection. However, when we recognize which obstacles are simply the enemy’s warfare against our gift, we can rise up and overcome. In the overcoming process, God builds the strength and wisdom we need to do the work He’s planned.
   4. Flip the Script. Once we begin to recognize where the enemy is attacking, we can begin to directly leverage those attacks against him. We can begin to build strength where physical weakness hinders. We can begin to invest truth where lies have stopped us. We can surrender areas of our life to God where self-will has preempted our giftings. And here’s the real deal…

Every work God does encounters opposition of some kind. But God always provides everything we need to overcome. In fact, it’s in the overcoming that His glory shines brightest. It’s in the overcoming that we gain a testimony that points straight to His person and power. And it’s in the overcoming that we learn who He really is and who He’s really created us to be.

Just like Roosevelt learned that he was designed not just to be strong but to lead a nation into strength. Just like Peter learned his boldness was not intended to prove himself to God, but to prove God to others. Just like I learned I was designed not to be understood but to help others understand. Because here’s the truth…

Our gifting is not ultimately about us. Though it’s given to us and God teaches us through it, our gifting is meant to declare who He is. Our gift is a point of transformation that others can see. Our gift is meant to lift Christ up and draw others to Him.

So if there has been a weakness or a chronic obstacle that’s held you back, I encourage you to prayerfully consider whether it’s an issue of timing or whether you might need to flip the script on some things in your life. Because here’s the final thought: Flipping the script is really about identity. And as we surrender to and fight for the identity He has for us, we’re fitted to unlock that freedom in others.

#identity #flipthescript #victory #EveryWriterWriting