Be Confident – You are Meant to Succeed.

It is natural for someone who has musical talent to aspire to become a musician. And it is not out of place for someone who is brilliant to say, “My ambition is to become a medical doctor”. It is generally acknowledged that our area of interest and what we aspire to become are determined by the abilities and talents we are born with.

At the age of 19, Mike Tyson became the youngest heavy weight boxing champion of the world. While his boxing career lasted, he gained world-wide fame and earned a fabulous fortune. He even set a global trend in men’s hair-style – the Mike Tyson haircut. As a boxer, Tyson was very successful.

But suppose he had opted to take to teaching, he would most likely have ended up a complete failure. It is doubtful whether he could have successfully completed the course of study that would earn him a teacher’s certificate. But if by some miracle he was able to achieve it, it would probably have taken him donkey’s years to do so. It is public knowledge that this prize-fighter, who was one of boxing’s hardest punchers, is not particularly well endowed when it comes to brain power.

In reality, it is our Creator that determines our choice of career since the gifts and talents we are born with are from Him. A person who is intellectually gifted might say, “I want to be a mathematician”. But if he wants to be exact, he ought to say, “God wants me to be a mathematician”.

Human beings have the desire to possess, to achieve and to change things. Our God-given abilities are what give rise to these desires. An ape cannot dwell on the idea of flying because it does not have the ability to achieve it. But human beings nurtured the idea that men could build a machine that can fly and they accomplished it.

Our desires, goals and aspirations are manifestations of the abilities and talents we are endowed with by our Maker. And because He is the giver of our talents and abilities, it is actually God that initiates our desires, goals and aspirations. If that is the case, it will be appropriate at this point to consider the question: Can people or circumstances; can anyone or anything prevent us from fulfilling our desires, goals and dreams?

The answer to this question is an emphatic no. We are meant to succeed in spite of the obstacles, difficulties and challenges we are bound to encounter in life. To ensure that we attain our goals and aspirations, God has provided us with what I refer to as creative tools.

One of the creative tools available to us works by faith and the power of belief. Like God, we are creative beings. God created the natural world – the trees, oceans, animals, birds, minerals, the heavenly bodies etc. But look around you and all the other things you see including clothing, furniture, appliances, vehicles, buildings and paved roads are created, manufactured or constructed by humans. However, unlike the Almighty Creator, our creative ability is limited. And that is why sometimes we are faced with obstacles, difficulties or challenges that seem impossible to overcome. At such times, all we need to do is turn to God, have faith in Him and believe He is able and willing to help us achieve success.

That man of genius, Jesus Christ, pointed the way to success in our endeavours in this inspiring bible passage, (Mark 11:20-24).

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Master, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered”. And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea’, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”.

Whatever your aspiration is; whether you aim to go to university or you simply desire to be able to put food on your table; whether you harbour dreams of stardom in the world of entertainment or your goal is to succeed in business, politics or sports; success will surely crown your efforts if you can just believe. This truth about life was made very clear by Jesus with this punchy statement, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

To obtain material for his best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill interviewed 500 of the wealthiest Americans in his time. He wanted to discover what it takes to accumulate a vast fortune. Here is one of the discoveries he made. As he put it, “Whatever a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve”. This statement bears testimony to the fact that there is no limit to what we can achieve through the power of belief.

Another creative tool we can employ when confronted with seemingly insurmountable difficulties is perseverance. The saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again” is an acknowledgement that perseverance can turn things around.

One man who employed this tool to great effect was Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric bulb. He is arguably America’s greatest inventor – he patented over 1,000 inventions. In order to discover the right way to make an electric bulb, he performed about 10,000 experiments. Each time a particular experiment failed to produce the desired result, he tried a different one. In the end, his persistence yielded the incandescent electric bulb.

It is reported that once the question was put to Edison, “How are you able to accomplish the things you do? You must be a genius” . “No” , he replied, “I’m not a genius. I just have the ability to apply my mental and physical energies to a problem without growing weary until I arrive at the solution” . It does not matter the nature of the difficulties facing you or how many times you have tried and failed, you are guaranteed to succeed if you persevere. Little wonder it is said that: “Where there is a will, there is a way” .

Jesus told the Parable of the Importunate Friend to enlighten us about the power of perseverance, (Luke 15:5-10).

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are now with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him what he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened”.

And still another creative tool God has put in place to enable us fulfill our desires and aspirations is the principle of giving in order to receive. This is how it works. If you want to be loved, then give your love to others. If you desire to be happy, focus on making others happy and if you want friends, be friendly towards others.

The validity of this principle is evident in the saying, “One good turn deserves another” , which means: when we are good to others, they will be good to us in return. And the expression, “Pay a man back in his own coin” , shows that when we treat others badly, we should expect to receive the same kind of treatment from them. As a rule, we should always give what we desire to get.

Jesus Christ brought this principle to light in this counsel he gave his disciples and a great multitude that had gathered to hear him, (Luke 6:37-38).

“Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” .

The auto-maker knows that your car tyre can puncture while you are on a trip. So he provides you with a spare tyre and tools – a wheel spanner and a jack. When you are faced with such a problem, you can fix it and continue on your way to your destination. Our Creator knows that our capability is limited. Consequently, He has made available to us creative tools to enable us overcome any obstacles, difficulties or challenges we may encounter along the way. God wants us to fulfill our dreams and aspirations. Just like the auto-maker, God wants us to reach our goal.