What people are saying about
Hidden Potential
We all have past experiences and personal struggles that make us feel disqualified from serving God. Fears and faults taunt us by saying, Theres no way God will ever use you. Thankfully, Wendys wise, biblically sound teaching will help you think differently and step into your calling more confidently. Not only is Wendy a dear friend but also a reassuring voice of Truth.
Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
Wendy Pope has dug deep, to our good and Gods glory. Hidden Potential is a must read and a reread for all who are willing to own their ugly before the God who can love us whole, fit us for His purposes, and delight us in the process.
Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, author of Finding Deep and Wide
Are you struggling to believe that God can use you to do mighty things for Him? Theres no limit to what He can do through you. Hidden Potential is a prescription for those whose faith is fractured. God wants to use you (mightily) for His glory! I loved the book! Its powerful and applicable to all.
Sharon Glasgow, author and speaker with Proverbs 31 Ministries
Illustrated through the biblical account of the life of Moses, and present-day believers like you and me, Wendy shows you how to be faithful even when youre afraid, useful when youve failed, and valuable even though you feel damaged. This book is not empty encouragement; it will show you how to read the Bible and apply it to your life, to restore hope and heal the wounds that keep you from experiencing the abundant life.
Timothy W. Peterson, publisher of Salem Books
With the wisdom of a mentor and the honesty of a friend, Wendy Pope reminds us that our potential isnt tied to our perfection, and our purpose isnt hindered by our flaws. Savor the stunning truth on these pages, friends, and start dreaming bigger! God is ready and willing to use us for His glory just as we are.
Alicia Bruxvoort, member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team
What readers are saying about
Hidden Potential
Hidden Potential will convict you, shake you up, and may even make you a little mad. But it will also raise the hairs on the back of your neck as you realize that the God of the universe sees so much more in you than you ever could!
I needed this right now in this season of my life. I walked away from reading this 100 percent ready and willing to surrender those grey areas of my life to God.
I felt like [the author] knew meknew I have a place I like to go to hide. I also enjoyed her encouragement not to stay there but to return and face my failure.
Do you believe God can for others, but not for you? Id never put it that way, but Ive thought it to myself so many times. [This book] started to open my heart to the realization that Im not the only person who feels unworthy.
Wendy Pope delivered hard truth in a loving way. Who wants to admit that they deal with failures, faults, fears, and frailties? Nobody, typically. We sweep it under the rug and hope nobody notices. She takes the reader by the hand and says, this may not be easy to confront, but its necessary in order to live up to your godly potential.
I loved the way she weaved the story of Moses into the entire book. It was masterful the way she shared his story in a fresh, new way.
HIDDEN POTENTIAL
Published by David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.
Integrity Music Limited, a Division of David C Cook
Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE, England
The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,
no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form
without written permission from the publisher.
The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.
Bible credits are listed at the back of the book.
Library of Congress Control Number 2019948090
ISBN 978-1-4347-1237-0
eISBN 978-0-8307-7916-1
2020 Wendy Pope
The Team: Laura Derico, Megan Stengel, Jack Campbell, Susan Murdock
Cover Design: Jon Middel
Cover Photo: Getty Images
First Edition 2020
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
121619
Dedicated to the women of
The Move Conference 2016
Lansing, MI
You are a worthwhile possibility.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Hidden Potential was written largely in part due to an invitation from my Midwestern sista, Keturah. Speaking at the Move Conference sparked the embers of this message. You are a worthwhile possibility was birthed that weekend. I love you, friend, and the Move Conference girls.
Sharon, Sheri, Meg, and Linda, I cant thank you enough for bearing your heart and soul to the audience of Hidden Potential . Each of you means so much to me. Your contribution to this work will facilitate healing in the lives of women around the world. I love each of you and have loved watching your potential reveal itself as you have surrendered your lives for His glory.
I have the best publishing team at David C Cook: Annette, Laura, Susan, Megan, Nick, Jon, and Jack. Thank you for teaching me so much about publishing and not holding against me what I dont know. Im grateful to be partnering with you on another powerful message.
Thank you to Lysa TerKeurst and my Proverbs 31 Ministries family for your love, support, and training.
Blythe, I love you! You are undoubtedly the best Christian Literary Agent in the business. Anyone looking for an agent?
Daddy and Momma, Im living the life I have because of you. Serving you during these senior years is one of Gods biggest blessings to me.
I have the best people! Scott, Blaire, and Griffinour family is the most important thing in this world to me. I pray your fears, faults, failures, and frailties never hold you back from Gods great plan for your lives. You are a worthwhile possibility!
Introduction
If you could change anything about you, what would it be?
Im sure my list would be completely different from yours, or maybe you look at me and assume I dont have a list. Oh, I have two: one from child me and one from current me. The child me wanted blond hair, and yes, because it seemed like they had more fun and were more popular. Child me wanted blue eyes to go with the blond hair. I wanted my jeans to be Gloria Vanderbilt or Jordache, and my shirts to have an alligatornot a ladybug pretending to be an alligator. Oh, and to be smart, you know, on the A/B honor roll. These things seem silly now that Im grown, but grown women have lists too.
Current me wants to be twenty pounds lighter and have wrinkles only in clothes. Id love to know what she knows about the Bible (whoever she is). And it would be fantabulous if my house could stay clean like hers . This ideal she is further along in ministry than I (and I started before her!). Current me still has so much work to do.
