God’s Plan of Promotion
God’s plan of promotion is so different than ours. Often, God’s promotion can be summed up in one word…TIME. Whereas, we want the raise, the huge platform, the fame, and the income now.
Your dreams may look like they are never going to come true. You may feel like this thing God has called you to is just not working out, and you may begin to doubt yourself and doubt what you thought God wanted you to do. Feeling like a failure because this is not how you saw your life going, you begin to doubt yourself and question God’s purpose for your life.
Don’t Give Up
When those doubts come, don’t jump ship. Don’t give up on the dream God has given you. His plan is completely different than yours. We see the here and now; God sees eternity. He can do far more than we could ever even imagine or ask for in our wildest dreams.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
David’s Promotion
David was a nobody until God made him a somebody. He simply fulfilled his duty. He showed up every day to fulfill the task he’d been given. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t fun. Yet because he was faithful in the small things, when the time was right, God pulled him into the big leagues.
Then he chose David, his servant,
Psalm 78:70-72
handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens.
One day he was caring for the ewes and their lambs,
the next day God had him shepherding Jacob,
his people Israel, his prize possession.
His good heart made him a good shepherd;
he guided the people wisely and well.
David had no idea when he got up early to go tend sheep that his life was going to change forever that day.
Show Up Today
How do we get God to use us? It’s simple. Choose to show up today to whatever it is God has for you.
Too many of us are guilty of searching for our own significance. We try to find the perfect job, create an amazing platform, and promote ourselves until we’re blue in the face. What if instead, we chose to just show up and fulfill the roles we’ve already been given and wait for God to promote us.
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Psalm 75:7 KJV
Fear-of-God is a school in skilled living—
Proverbs 15:33 MSG
first you learn humility, then you experience glory.
God decides when it’s time for us to enter the limelight. It’s his job to promote us in his timing. So if you’re stressing today, take a deep breath. Get back to the basics. Do what you need to do today to move forward. Take the next step, and leave the rest up to God. Don’t spend all your energy trying to promote yourself. Do what needs to be done today. Work hard; then leave the rest in God’s capable hands.
Created to Do More
Looking for books that inspire you to do something more with your life? Check out Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk by Jordan Raynor, Soar: Build Your Vision from the Ground Up by T. D. Jakes, and Money-Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference by Crystal Paine. These books are all favorites of mine!
Also, check out my post Stop Praying and Take a Step of Faith.