“I have brought you glory on earth”
Who Will You Believe?
Although it may not seem true in the moment when it happens, we have a personal choice to make when someone tells us that what we are believing can’t be done when God says it can be. Doesn’t it say in Scripture that with God all things are possible? So why do we let discouraging words stop the dream, or dare I even say, the God-given vision He has placed in our hearts?
The Story of Joseph
The Bible is not just a history or an allegory of Christian faith. The testimonies in both the Old and New Testament were recorded so that we could learn from other believers who have gone before us.
For example, Joseph was a young man whom God spoke to through dreams. However, because he wasn’t mature, he shared his God-given dreams with his stepbrothers who were not too thrilled with him. Their jealousy of his special relationship with their father Jacob, led to very real consequences for him. Joseph’s brothers despised his dream to the point that they threw him into a pit and led their father and Joseph’s mother Rachel to believe he was dead, when, in reality, they sold him into slavery to some passersby heading to Egypt.
However, we learn that after all that Joseph suffered at the hands of his family, he said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 NIV,
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Jesus Had Resistance Too
Jesus’ family didn’t understand His destiny and calling either. One time, they actually thought He was going mad. Yet, when He reached the end of His life on earth, He could say to His Father,
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave Me to do.” – John 17:4 NIV
Let’s face it, if you waited for everybody to understand and agree with you, you’ll never do what God has truly called you to do. Disappointment and discouragement will probably stop you in your tracks as you wait for humans to give you their stamp of approval. You’ll never move forward to the next part of the journey.
Only you can say “yes” or “no” to what is in your heart! So, do you believe in what God has spoken to you or will you believe the words of others? That’s a choice only you can make.
The Wright Brothers
In the latter part of the 19th century, a well-known church denomination was holding a convention. One of the leaders stood up and shared his vision for both the church and society at large. As he told his fellow ministers he believed that someday men would actually fly from place to place instead of travelling on horseback, most of his audience was confounded by disbelief. This was a vision too outlandish for many of them to conceive and stirred up a lot of negative thoughts and words.
One particular man, Bishop Wright, stood up and furiously protested and said, “Heresy! Flight is reserved for the angels!” He went on to say that if God had intended man to fly, He would have bestowed him with wings. Unfortunately, the Bishop was unable to envision what the speaker saw as the future of human travel. When he finished his angry protest, he took his two sons, Orville and Wilbur, and left the auditorium.
That’s right; you guessed it. His sons were the famous Orville and Wilbur Wright! And several years later, on 17 December 1903, they did what their father had declared was impossible; they recorded the first human flight!
Ready to Reignite Your Dreams and Passions?
Just know and understand this: many people prefer having the comforts of their past rather than reaching for the risks of a future. If you need human affirmation, support and approval, you’ll probably never do what God has called you to do. However, if you choose to break away from the opinions of others, you’ll get to glorify His name and His goodness far beyond what you could ever believe or imagine.
Today, start to re-ignite those dreams and passions and move towards the call He has put on your heart!