Destined for Greatness
From the beginning we were all destined for greatness.
Heavy first line, huh?
We are God’s first plan; there is no plan B and He created us for greatness, for His glory and our fulfillment.
From the beginning we all saw it ourselves too - doing great things; things we love, things we felt would make a difference, things we had a passion for. I don’t know a Kindergartner on the planet who has low aspirations or self defeating thoughts about what they want to be when they grow up. If they genuinely love eating at Taco Bell with their parents and a cheesy chalupa is their favorite meal, it isn’t shocking when the child smiles ear to ear when asked what they want to be, and proudly announces they want to work at Taco Bell. Similarly, if a child finds a particular doctor that gave a painless shot and calmed all their nerves they may decide that’s how they want to spend their adult life as well.
It’s not about the particular job or prestige, it’s about passion; it’s about giving that feeling to someone else, creating a special experience, giving someone something they really like, deconstructing stress and replacing it with joy. It’s because what that child is choosing does something magical for their heart, their mind, their soul. It’s a passion God planted deep inside their heart, inside all our hearts.
From the beginning we are destined for greatness and we, at one point, were not afraid to claim it. We say it loud and proud. We can clearly list the reasons we had with no hesitation elaborate on said dreams if prompted. We could even identify the benefits and potential pitfalls, at a young age, how this career we dreamed of might be difficult but so worth it.
At some point it was accessible right from the surface of our heart and then the world gets to us. Here we are, all grown up.
And then something happens…
Responsibilities, mistakes, major life changes, gains and losses, opportunities… our passion, our destiny, gets buried and hard to find. We become focused on survival and think that thriving on our passion is a long shot. And to the back burner it goes.
So let me ask you, did you follow your dream? Did you become what you so proudly announced in Kindergarten as your dream job? What about in high school? Did you become what you wanted to be in high school? College? Post college? Are you chasing your dreams today? Do you still have a dream?
We get the job, get married, have a couple kids, maybe a dog or cat, buy the car and the house and now we’re stuck. Our finances are tied up in surviving and providing, which most are happy to do because we chose these other things also. They too are part of our passion, part of what fulfills us, part of what drives us, part of our destiny, part of our greatness, a sweet gift from God. And yet, there’s a hole. Whether it’s going to a job that feels constricting or a dead end, or it’s the fifth load of laundry and the 23rd diaper change, we go from dreams of thriving to just surviving.
Our heart longs for more. More of everything!! More fulfillment, more peace, more freedom, more creativity, more flexibility, more stability, more time, more vacations, more late mornings, more quiet evenings… more. It’s not selfish, it’s a drive that’s deep inside your heart, that no matter how good everything else is, still aches to be acknowledged. It’s a God shaped dream that only we can fulfill and that’s why it’s stuck with us, evolved with our age and still the thing that excites us.
You are destined for greatness. Your passion plays a role in what makes you great. Somewhere between sticky pb&j sandwiches and the corporate ladder maybe your passion was lost. Finding it, fanning the flames, believing it and being willing to work to bring it back is the first step in getting your greatness into the world. God has a plan for your life. He promises that when we follow His plan, that when our hearts align with His, He will stand in the gaps for us. He will make a way where there is no way. He will show you the path, guide your hand, open doors.
There is a certain level of bravery that it takes to step out into one’s greatness. Maybe your greatness is going to be displayed in a way you didn’t think possible. Maybe your greatness takes you down a completely different path than you had thought. Maybe your greatness is a small pivot to the left or right before being realized. Maybe your greatness is in the patience it takes to wait on God’s timing. Wherever you find yourself, don’t stop seeking it. The hunt is what leads us to new opportunity, to realizing what we’ve been hoping for, for the release of whatever moved us from dreaming to being stuck.
Have a dream, a dream so big it scares you to even talk about it. Do it anyway. Tell someone. Tell someone how big and crazy this dream is. Tell them with confidence one way or another it’s going to happen. Whether it’s exactly how you’ve planned or how God guides you in a new way use your passion. Tell them it’s happening. Their reaction has nothing to do with you. They can think whatever they like. Tell their friends you’ve lost your mind, be jealous of your conviction, be excited for your enthusiasm. Whatever it is their reaction is their’s. Now, your job is to start seeking within your current life, where your greatness can come out.
And while there is no formula for success in this particular area hard work, consistency, commitment and claiming it to be so, goes a long way. Seek Godly counsel, fill your mind with inspiration, surround yourself with like minds and run together. Find accountability to start hitting the benchmark goals. Finally, pray. Pray without ceasing, as the Bible says. Buckle up for a wild ride. God’s promises don’t come without bumps and potholes, mountains to climb and valleys to traverse, long seasons filled with questions but your passion is worth the work and you have been destined for greatness from the beginning. Claim it. Create it. Do it. You are destined for greatness.
