Kingdom Beauty Design

How many times have you gotten excited about a new job, a new project idea, a new relationship, or even a new recipe to soon after have discouraging thoughts about why you wouldn’t be the right person for it?

I hear ya.

I can honestly admit that I’ve dwelled on negative thoughts that have flooded my mind way too many times.

I often find myself meeting with new people and almost always the conversation begins with, “What do you do for a living?” And then they begin to share how they graduated with some sort of college degree or how they are continuing their education to pursue another and although I get excited about how awesome this all sounds, I’m often lost and confused about all these college lingo and then too embarrassed at times to ask them to explain more of what that looks like.

So I simply listen.

Then my mind goes into this downward spiral of negative thoughts that sound like;

“You’re not educated enough to be friends with them.”

“You need to go to college so that you can relate more confidently to people.”

“Maybe you should choose a different career path.”

But today as I read my devotional I came across a passage that struck me and gave me a sense of comfort as if Jesus Himself wrapped me with a warm blanket into His loving arms.

The story begins in the book of Acts chapters 3 and 4 where Peter and John, (disciples of Jesus), stood before the council after they had healed a man whom was lame from birth and was carried to and laid daily at a gate temple that was called “Beautiful Gate” to ask for alms. At the time of this encounter, this man was now well over forty years old.

Peter and John were on their way to pray, but stopped as this man begged for alms expecting them to give him something, but Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:6-8).

Everyone whom saw and recognized this man was filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priest and the Capitan of the temple and the sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching people and proclaiming in Jesus resurrection from the dead, and they were arrested until the next day (Acts 4:1-3).

“But many of those who had heard the word believed….” Acts 4:4

Y’all, this is so crazy!

But what amazed me was what happens later on…

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:12-13

Drop the mic kind of moment here LOL.

These men that had arrested Peter and John couldn’t deny or say anything in opposition because they had proof right before their eyes. They had healed a man, whom no one had any hope for, in the name of Jesus Christ AND funny enough they somehow perceived Peter and John as “uneducated, common men” and recognized that they had been with Jesus…

Jesus can do just about anything with you and I, common, ordinary people and sometimes “uneducated” in the eyes of society.

So the next time we think we aren’t equipped for a task we must look to Jesus the one whom calls us into action towards whatever that may be, big or small, He cares about every detail of our lives.

Jesus often uses ordinary people like you and I to do extraordinary things in this world. He is the author of our lives and the giver of all good gifts.

My friend, college or no college degree, you do have gifts and talents that God has given you for his glory. Whenever you feel unworthy or less than ask God to show you how to use these gifts and talents He has given you. Your story matters…

Truths to remember:

⭐️ God begins with the impossible

⭐️ Nothing is impossible when God is involved

⭐️ There is no dream or calling in which God has spoken over your life that is impossible

⭐️ Dreams will make us different, and it takes courage and boldness to be different

⭐️ Dreams set you apart

⭐️ Dreams follow you when you follow Jesus

Father, I thank you for the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. I’m so grateful that you use common, ordinary people like myself for Your glory. Forgive me for when I feel unworthy of Your love and for often times trying to do things on my own strength. Lord, teach me to know the difference from what I can do from what only You can do and I pray to have the boldness and courage to do what You call me to do in my day-to-day life. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen!