There was a boy who was wearing a size 17 shoes asked a basketball coach of Louisiana State University named Dale Brown what must he do to become a good player. He said that his father is a drug addict and was in jail. The boy said that his friends are telling him that he is too tall and too clumsy as he can only play few minutes in court. They laughed at him and said how he wouldn’t be any good, and he doesn’t have a chance to succeed in the game. He may be better in wishing a different career to become an Army like his step-father.  However, Coach Brown said that he would send exercise techniques to strengthen his legs and endurance. He believed that this boy has something to offer. The boy made a decision and went to a gym for hours every day and did everything according to the coach’s instruction. This boy’s name is Shaquille O’Neal also known as ‘Shaq.’ Dale Brown took Shaq to start his career at Louisiana State University. The Orlando Magic drafted Shaq with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft and then signed with LA Lakers where they won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.  He went on to become one of the best players of all-time in the NBA league.

I was driving when I heard a song that says: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper, it won’t work.  God will do what He said He would do. He’s not a man that He should lie (Stand by his word). He will come through. Say God will do what He said He would do.”

People may tell you this and that and they can call you names:

“loser”

“you cannot get out of debt.”

“di ka talaga aasenso…”

“hanggang jan ka na lang”

“di ka na talaga magbabago”

Like Shaq, he did not take those negative thoughts inside of him but instead he kept doing better to improve on himself. He became the person who God designed him to be.

Now, I want to encourage you that one day all things can turn around, and you will see that your life will slowly take off better than what you have expected. Quit the thought of giving up on life and giving up on God. He is the absolute, eternal and living God. Nothing is impossible with God. He can make all things beautiful in your life. Don’t believe those negative people who put you down. Believe in the word of God: “I will never leave you, I will never forsake you. Even you read it back: ‘You forsake, never will I, you leave will I.’

May mga panahon na huhusgahan ka ng mga tao because of what happened to you, what many mistakes you have done and that you missed many opportunities. But one touch of God’s favor and all things can suddenly change. Things could have been worse, but Jesus loves you so much. What is meant for your harm, He will use it to bless you.

In the book of Genesis, a promised was given to Abraham that he will become a father of many nations. I will bless her [Sarah], and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

I want you to take note of this: Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Did you see that word: “Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him…” In my opinion, this was God personally held onto Abraham’s arm and said: “let me show you something outside, Abraham because you seem not to believe me. Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” God went on to change his name ‘Abram’ to ‘Abraham’ to confirm that promise. From just an ordinary ancestor to become the ‘father of multitude.’ God made it clear that Abraham’s family line will come from Sarah and not from Hagar. Despite of his unbelief, baby Jacob was born when he was 100 years old; the promise of God was fulfilled. God is an all-powerful and an all-knowing God. God will do what He said He would do.

Who told you that you cannot make it in life?  The God who can open the womb of Sarah despite of her old age and past beyond her child-bearing years, the God who can make Shaq from a nobody to a somebody, the God who can make Abraham a father of many nations on his 100th birthday and the God who took him outside to show the stars in the sky, is the same God who can fulfill His promises to you today. Keep seeing your goals are now happening in faith. You may not see it right now, but  the Word of God in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.”

Do you see those “stars up in the sky” of your life? God will birth inside of us dreams of what we could become?  Do you see that God is changing your name from a loser to a winner, from a debtor to a lender,  from a victim to a victor, from the bottom to the top, from the last to the first, from a nobody to a somebody, from nothing’ to ‘something from death to life. You too must change that way you see yourself.

Today, God is opening new doors of better opportunities, good breaks, bringing in the right people in your life, right connections to bring you where you suppose to be. One touch of God’s favor can change your life from an ordinary to an extraordinary, above-average person. You shall excel, and the world will know that you are a child of the living God, destined to win over those difficulties and achieve greatness. God will do what He said He would do.