Put Your Big Girl Panties On!
When I dream... I dream BIG! But I have to be honest, the past couple of days have been a real struggle for me, my head has been in the clouds and I have been experiencing this terrible feeling of being in limbo. I absolutely hate being in limbo and because of it I have felt such a lack of direction and motivation. Life's hardships have started to get to me. People’s negative words and opinions are starting to test my determination. I am finding myself desperate to feel closer to God. I find myself questioning if I am on the right path, if I am making him proud. Wouldn't it be nice if God would just come down, tap you on your shoulder and say either "Good job!" or "Let’s work on this"? Sometimes this feeling of abandonment isn't what it seems at all.
Joel Osteen said "When you don't see anything happening, that's when you have to dig your heels in and say 'God, I'm going to believe what you promised me in spite of how I feel.'"
Unfortunately in life it is impossible to not encounter people’s unsolicited negative opinions about you. Naysayers more specifically. A naysayer is someone who denies, refuses, opposes, or is skeptical or cynical about something. I have lived my entire life dealing with people who believe they know me and what I am or am not capable of. I have fought for everything I have and everything I have become. In high school I was criticized by my guidance counselors and teachers. I was told I would never make anything of myself and that if I couldn't learn to conform to their idea of what a good student was I was going to fail.
I have had boyfriends tell me I wasn’t good enough and that I didn’t meet their expectations. I have had someone that I held close to my heart tell me that the lifelong dream I had of being an attorney was pointless. That I would be horrible at it and that me not being able to separate my feelings in my own personal case would be my ultimate demise. I have had a boss tell me that “one day I would make a great manager”, this of course after starting and running his company for 2 years and making him a ton of money.
I read somewhere that when people question your abilities is not necessarily a reflection of what you aren't capable of but rather their own insecurities of what they feel they aren't capable of. Mmmm... that's GOOD!
To tell you that you shouldn't listen to these negative things or not allow the negative things that have happened to you is a nice thought but the reality of the matter is we are human. These words, opinions and circumstances eventually get to us. Sometimes the biggest naysayers in our lives are those closest to us.
You must know that it’s okay to cry, it's okay to get your feelings hurt. It’s okay to be sad for a moment, a day, or even a week but there comes a time where you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have to stop using your shortcomings as an excuse. You have to stand up, shake off the hurt and put your big girl panties on!
I read somewhere that when people question your abilities is not necessarily a reflection of what you aren't capable of but rather their own insecurities of what they feel they aren't capable of. Mmmm... that's one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:13-14)
Pastor Matt Moore said "Success without opposition is a myth."
What you need to remember is that God gave you the dream and the naysayers cannot see what God has given and equipped you with to fulfill this dream. Do not under any circumstance give up on a dream or give up on something you feel called to do because someone says you can't do it.
Frequently people come to me and ask for advice on their dreams and goals. You tell me what your dream is and I’ll tell you what you need to do to get there. I will not say it’s going to be easy, and I will not do it for you but I can surely dream it up. Many times though I get hit with resistance, "well, I can’t do that" or "well, that's just more work than I am willing to put in right now". My answer to that is YOU DON'T WANT IT BAD ENOUGH. Clearly we all have situations in our lives that may hinder our ability to just "jump", but nothing in your life will stop you from crawling... or walking... or running to your dream unless you let it stop you.
So when you are feeling down, and you are feeling low, remember people like…
Bethany Hamilton, her arm was bit off by a shark and two years later she won first place in the Women's National Surfing Championships.
Walt Disney, he was fired from a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
Oprah Winfrey was fired from her position as a television reporter because she was said to be "unfit for TV."
Lucille Ball was told by her drama instructors that she should try another profession.
Steven Kings first book "Carrie" was rejected 30 times before it was published, he is now one of the best-selling authors of all time.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
All of these people have something in common... determination. They never gave up!
So ask yourself "what have I given up on?" "What have I pushed to the side because someone didn't believe in me?"
Now put your big girl panties on, go out and live your dreams! And always remember “but with faith, the impossible becomes possible.” Mark 9:23