Heather Cofer

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Of Wings and Types and Profiles (…and Cabbages and Kings)

19 Sep

A few years ago I discovered the 16 Personalities test (based off of the Myers Briggs personality test, I believe). Fascinated and bit sceptical, I spent the approximate 10 minutes it takes to answer all the questions. As I read the results, I found myself laughing, rather astounded at the accuracy of them! I could have literally been reading a description of myself. 

Over the next few weeks, I got my husband to take it, then some close friends. Then a few more family members. Then the people we spent Thanksgiving with. It was rather hilarious and quite insightful as we read the results to one another, verbally processing them and noting the differences and similarities of various personality types. It was fun and super interesting.

But, in the midst of the new insights and useful knowledge, I became keenly aware of several ways something like this–a helpful tool–could also be used in an unhealthy way. So it got me thinking: what place should personality tests have in the life of a follower of Jesus? 

where it’s right… and where it’s not

God has given us sharp minds, and a world full of materials in order to create things that will enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. He’s a God of creativity and intelligence, and being made in His image, He’s given us these traits to use for His glory and our good (I don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful someone decided to invent things things like ovens and pianos and stuff). They are gifts from a gracious and kind Heavenly Father who cares for us. 

The problem comes when we begin to cling to these tools, thinking about or using them in a way that becomes detrimental to our lives, especially in a spiritual way. When we become dependent on them or use them to justify sin – in essence adopt them as mini idols – the very good gifts take over a place (even if seemingly small) that was only meant to be filled by God. 

And this is where personality tests come in. Yes, these can be used in harmless, even good and insightful ways. I know many (including myself) who have gained insight into the minds of others, whether spouses or family or friends or co-workers, that has been incredibly helpful in certain circumstances. But it’s when this tool is elevated to a position of insight and authority that is reserved for God alone, or when it is used to justify sin or put an unhealthy focus on self, that it becomes dangerous.

I’m going to break those down just a bit.

Too Much Authority

I’ve been increasingly concerned at the weight I’ve sometimes seen being put on certain personality tests (I won’t mention which), There seems to be a dependence being ascribed to them for insight into ourselves that encroaches on the dependence we should only have in the Lord. 

Proverbs 1:2a says, 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” 

And Proverbs 2:6 says,

“For the Lord gives wisdom;
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

God can definitely use these tests to bring insights that are helpful; information that can be used to strengthen and build up the Body. But we need to remember that even if these had never been invented and this information were not available to us, we would still have all we need in Jesus for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Because these tests were invented by humans with finite minds, they will never compare to the supernatural wisdom of our all-knowing, all-wise Creator. They will most definitely break down at one point or another. 

So as we approach these tests, we should always be sure to give ultimate authority to our Lord and Savior, who holds all knowledge in His almighty hands. 

Justifying Sin

Another trap we need to be very careful of is not using the insights these tests give into our personalities to justify the specific sins that accompany them (or… us). 

It can be tempting to say when confronted with our sin, “Well, that’s just who I am; the test said so.” But the power of God is not stunted by our personalities. He came to sanctify and transform these specific weaknesses of ours for His glory, using them as a testimony of His ability to do the impossible in and through us.

So, when the Lord uses these personality tests to cause us to come face-to-face with our sin, let’s allow Him to convict and change us in order to become more like Him. 

Too Much of Us

One last thing we need to be careful of is to not allow personality tests to take away our focus on God and put it onto ourselves. It’s certainly not bad to gain understanding into the intricacies of who we are… as long as it is ultimately to know how better to love and serve God with these “selves” He’s entrusted us with. 

It is not the knowledge of ourselves, but the knowledge of Christ that brings transformation. 

Paul said to the Believers at Colossae,

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him; bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10)

Knowledge of ourselves will only be eternally helpful if it is grounded first in the never-changing reality of who God is.

more of him

God knows us better than we will ever know ourselves. He has set our days, He knows our “inward parts,” (Psalm 139:13) and can be trusted to give us the understanding we need to use our complicated and often confusing personalities to advance His Kingdom on earth. No matter how detailed the profiles and numbers, it will never compare to the knowledge that comes from knowing and loving Him.

Your friend,

Previous Post: « 28 Years of You
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol Beth Sprenger says

    September 19, 2019 at 2:22 pm

    Great Article, Heather! Thank you for your wise and thoughtful insights.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      September 20, 2019 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you, Mom! I really appreciate that. I love you!

      Reply
  2. Leah says

    September 19, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Couldn’t agree with this more! In their proper place, I love personality profiles and have found them to be so helpful in my marriage and my own growth. They are an amazing tool, but they can never replace the wisdom and growth and patient understanding we gain from drawing close to Jesus and letting Him work deep in our hearts. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      September 20, 2019 at 5:43 pm

      Amen! So glad it resonated with you!

      Reply
  3. Diana Yoder says

    September 19, 2019 at 8:19 pm

    Hmm such a good reminder to keep our gaze and focus on the Lord. It is so easy to fall into these traps, especially because they can be used for good. Each piece must have its proper place. Its a timely reminder for me, as I interact with my peers and those around me, when the subject of our personalities comes up, (which it does quite often), that those are opportunities to share the Gospel. To keep my eyes on Him, and to point others to the great goodness and wisdom of our God, He is the one who has all knowledge and understanding. In Him we do have everything we need for life and godliness.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      September 20, 2019 at 5:44 pm

      Thank you for your thoughts! So thankful to hear the Lord is teaching others similar things!

      Reply

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As I watch the happenings in this world I have an As I watch the happenings in this world I have an ever-increasing ache—a yearning—to be known first and foremost by my allegiance to Jesus Christ.

As I read headlines, hot takes, opinions, debates between fellow believers—praying and seeking to learn and discern—I’m more certain than ever that being a Christian frees us from being defined by or confined to earthly labels in our stances on any given issue. We’re free to champion what God champions, to despise what God despises regardless of how it might be viewed by those around us or what political lines it might cross. We’re free to love those who differ from us, and yes, even free to love those who do us wrong. 

I have strong opinions and thoughts about certain issues—no doubt about it. I disagree with certain thoughts or opinions fellow believers hold. But what I want those brothers and sisters to know about me *first* is that I love them, not how I might disagree with them. Yes, there’s a place to discuss, to sharpen one another, to exhort and encourage, to warn and even to rebuke at times when we see fellow believers straying from Christ. But the world is supposed to know us by our love for each other, not our debates and conflicts. This should temper the “what,” “how,” and “when” of every conversation. 

Some of us are called to stand more publicly against certain evils and injustices than others. We should expect the best of those who aren’t doing or saying exactly what we’re doing or saying (*especially* if we’re defining them by their lack of words on social media. There are faithful Christians who will never say a word about current issues online, but are obeying in word and deed in their in-person spheres). That said, this should *never* be used as an excuse to neglect the actions and words that every Christ-follower must be marked by according to Scripture. And when we find ourselves hesitating to obey any of God’s commands due to another allegiance something needs to change.

Lord, may your people be defined not by causes, but by Christ; not by worldly labels, but by you alone.
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#lookingtoJesus #thegospelchangeseverything #Christcenteredwomanhood
I’ve been thinking about my little fuchsia plant I’ve been thinking about my little fuchsia plant the past few days. I snipped and propagated it from a stunning outdoor hanging plant we had a couple years ago after it scorched in the intense CO sun. After weeks of daily watching I finally saw the roots appear, and replanted it. Fuchsia is special to me, because it’s one of the plants that beautified our windowsills in Mongolia throughout our years there. I love having one in our home.

Recently, though, did a little trimming of this plant. I noticed there were a couple of overly flourishing sprigs; they were so long they were keeping the little plant from filling out. So, as much as I hated to do it, I clipped them off. To my delight, brand new leaves began appearing within days all over the plant.

Why has this been on my mind?  Because it reminded me that sometimes—in order for us to flourish—we need to clip back areas in our lives that are zapping growth. It’s often a painful decision, because they’re usually pastimes or vocations we love. But we know in order to direct time and energy toward our God-given priorities we need to do a little clipping of those gangly offshoots. Although we feel bare for a time, it doesn’t take long for the evidence of growth and life to show itself where it was much needed. 

And guess what? Those clipped offshoots are sitting in a jar in the kitchen, waiting to sprout new roots. They aren’t gone forever, just being prepped to produce life rather than zap it. Sometimes branches do need to be clipped and tossed. Other times they just need to be propagated—waiting for new roots to grow so they can grow and flourish at the right time in the right way.

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2
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#lookingtoJesus #plants #Christcenteredwomanhood #fuchsia #ponderings #lessonseverywhere
//Well, it’s all an adventure That comes with a //Well, it’s all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking a tightrope
With you//

The incredible @frostedphotographer took some headshots for us, and she said, “Do you want to snap a few together?” Yes, please. 😍😍😍

Forever thankful for the gift of a life adventure with this man.
//Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Su //Summer and winter and
springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their
courses above,
Join with all nature in 
manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness,
mercy, and love//
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#greatisthyfaithfulness #lookingtoJesus #springtime
“Being like Jesus” will never contradict the r “Being like Jesus” will never contradict the rest of Scripture.

Several times as of late I’ve read or heard examples of people using stories of Jesus from the gospels to back up an argument about accepting sin of some kind. They say that if His followers are going to be like Him they need to follow His example—His example by their interpretation, that is.

But the narratives told of Jesus in the Gospels will *never* contradict the specific commands Christ-followers are given in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus never justified a sin we’re commanded to repent of. A sinful attitude never laced His words, no matter how matter-of-fact His rebukes were. Jesus is the Word made flesh. He will never go against His character or commands for His people.

We can be hard-line on sin while being gentle and kind. We can show compassion without compromising truth. We can be loving while holding fast to biblical convictions. We can, and we must.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Changing Him in any way for our own gain—whether that’s for fleshly gratification or out of fear of others—is making a Jesus in our image. This is a Jesus who cannot save. 

But we have a Jesus who *can* save, who needs no re-making. May we, by His grace, be ever-conforming to Him.
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#lookingtoJesus #Christcenteredwomanhood #Christcenteredliving #truth #love #Jesusislife
“Only God Himself fully appreciates the influenc “Only God Himself fully appreciates the influence of a Christian mother in the molding of character in her children.” 
-Billy Graham

I know without a doubt this is true of my mom. This side of heaven I’ll have no idea what depths her godly influence and faithfulness has had upon me as a wife, mom, and woman in any sphere. I will never forget her telling us, “I’m so thankful I get to spend my days with you.” To have the assurance we were loved and enjoyed on top of all she did for our physical needs was a priceless gift. And, as I prepared to enter into adulthood she not only mentored me, but invited me into friendship with her. There aren’t words to sum up that kind of honor.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. Thank you for being willing to love and follow Jesus in whatever He’s asked of you. There is nothing greater you could’ve given to us. I love you.
“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was be “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:15-16

At the end of every baby book I make for my kids I include a picture of their ultrasound next to a picture of them at a year old. I want them to have no doubt that they have been loved dearly from the moment we found out about them, before we could see them with our own eyes. I want them to know that their lives are gifts, and always have been. I want them to know that every bit of morning sickness, every ache and pain, every labor and delivery, every sleepless night, every urgent care trip, every tear shed, every penny spent, every pursuit that’s been put on hold, every extra mess, every lingering effect on my body are beyond worth it for the privilege of being their mama. For the kiddos who were a surprise to us, I want them to know God knew infinitely better than we did the timing for another child, filling our lives with delight. I want to combat any lie that the enemy and the world that would tell them they’re an inconvenience, a hindrance, a “Plan B,” with assurances of my love and—more importantly—God’s love and perfect plan for them.

I want my children to know I wouldn’t trade them for any career, any worldly accolades, any convenience, any fortune, any temporary ease. They have been used by God as tools to reveal and root out sin, to flood my weakness with the grace of God, to increase my joy. 

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I just want to say: thank you, Lord, for the undeserved gift of my children.
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#gratefulmama #mothersday #childrenareagift #fearfullyandwonderfullymade
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