“Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?” Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson)

Some of this was hokey and new-age ish, but the good part: “your playing small doesn’t serve the world” is pretty powerful. 

Moses was frightened by his key role in freeing the Isralites from Egpyt. (Remember “who am I that I should go to Pharoah to bring my people out of Egypt?”?).  Yet he was the man for the next 40 years that God used.  He didn’t get a big head, but was used by God in a big way! Imagine if he died, still cowering in fear in Midian having never accepted the challenge to approach Pharoah.  What a waste of a life that would have been, mired in self-represed humility.  Imaine if Peter had never risen to the occasion and preached to the thousands on the day of Pentecost.  Imagine if Paul stayed in the house on Straight Street, wondering how God could possibly use someone like him.  Fortunately, they got over their humble selves, and with God’s help (Eph 3:16…), changed the world.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.