Reason #967
I'm not sure what's worse, a missed opportunity or a failed opportunity. Both are pretty bad. The only benefit of a failed opportunity is that you can at least say you tried. You don't have to spend your days wondering if things might have gone differently had you actually made an attempt. You can rest knowing the actual outcome rather than wondering what could have been. But a missed opportunity leaves you hanging. What if you would have just made an effort? What if you would have actually seized that opportunity when you had a chance? What if you had tried your hardest even though you had no idea how it would turn out? But you're left wondering and you realize you'll never know. Sometimes certain opportunities only come once in a lifetime, and if you pass them up, that's the only chance you'll get.
God is a God of second chances, and I'm living proof of that. But second chances don't always mean you get the same chance twice. I am constantly praising God for second chances and for NEW mercies each day. Truth be told, I am often grateful that my failed opportunities were exactly that. Failed. One and done. I'm grateful that He is constantly creating, constantly doing new things. But we don't want to live in that mindset because sometimes God calls us to certain opportunities at a specific time. Sometimes the stage is perfectly set for you to act, and when you get cold feet and change your mind, the time has passed. Sure, God can bring it back around again, but the truth of the matter is that you may not be the one to receive that opportunity again. He may allow someone else the opportunity you passed up, and that's just how it goes. God gives us the option to say 'no,' and He isn't going to badger us into saying 'yes.' And so we must realize that with each opportunity we're given, we would be most wise to seize it.
There's no better feeling in the world than being used by God. I really can't even come up with words to describe how it feels to be a part of His plan, a part of what He is doing. When God asks us to partner with Him to carry out His mission, His vision, there is no greater honor. But just because the opportunity is incredible does not mean it is easy. It doesn't mean that it's not scary or hard or intimidating. Often times, the greater the opportunity the greater the challenge it presents. Of course, if we look at it from God's perspective we'd see it differently. Because God has equipped us to take on challenges and succeed. We may not succeed by human standards, but if we succeed by God's standards, that's what counts. He isn't asking us to do it on our own, but we feel like we have to. That's why it seems so hard. From a human perspective, failure always looks imminent. Sometimes God has called us to God-sized opportunities that we really can't do on our own. But that's the purpose. He wants to help us, and with His help we will certainly find success. The only time we encounter failed opportunities is when we go them alone. Might as well not even try if that's the case. God given opportunities require God given help, and praise the Lord that He's always ready and willing to lend a hand.
God might be presenting you with a once in a lifetime opportunity. You may never get another chance to reconcile with that person once this one passes. You may never have the opportunity to share the gospel with that particular co-worker again. You may never get the chance to serve God in that capacity once you're out of this certain season, or you may not have the opportunity to show grace, kindness, and compassion to that complete stranger you'll never see again. Some opportunities only come once. Just because you don't take them doesn't mean someone else won't, but that also means someone else will get the blessings that were in store with that opportunity. You never know why God has given you the opportunities that He has, but if you trust Him and take them, you'll be amazed at the work He does through you and with you.
#967 - Because of the God-sized opportunities He call us to and helps us through.
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity." - Colossians 4:5
God is a God of second chances, and I'm living proof of that. But second chances don't always mean you get the same chance twice. I am constantly praising God for second chances and for NEW mercies each day. Truth be told, I am often grateful that my failed opportunities were exactly that. Failed. One and done. I'm grateful that He is constantly creating, constantly doing new things. But we don't want to live in that mindset because sometimes God calls us to certain opportunities at a specific time. Sometimes the stage is perfectly set for you to act, and when you get cold feet and change your mind, the time has passed. Sure, God can bring it back around again, but the truth of the matter is that you may not be the one to receive that opportunity again. He may allow someone else the opportunity you passed up, and that's just how it goes. God gives us the option to say 'no,' and He isn't going to badger us into saying 'yes.' And so we must realize that with each opportunity we're given, we would be most wise to seize it.
There's no better feeling in the world than being used by God. I really can't even come up with words to describe how it feels to be a part of His plan, a part of what He is doing. When God asks us to partner with Him to carry out His mission, His vision, there is no greater honor. But just because the opportunity is incredible does not mean it is easy. It doesn't mean that it's not scary or hard or intimidating. Often times, the greater the opportunity the greater the challenge it presents. Of course, if we look at it from God's perspective we'd see it differently. Because God has equipped us to take on challenges and succeed. We may not succeed by human standards, but if we succeed by God's standards, that's what counts. He isn't asking us to do it on our own, but we feel like we have to. That's why it seems so hard. From a human perspective, failure always looks imminent. Sometimes God has called us to God-sized opportunities that we really can't do on our own. But that's the purpose. He wants to help us, and with His help we will certainly find success. The only time we encounter failed opportunities is when we go them alone. Might as well not even try if that's the case. God given opportunities require God given help, and praise the Lord that He's always ready and willing to lend a hand.
God might be presenting you with a once in a lifetime opportunity. You may never get another chance to reconcile with that person once this one passes. You may never have the opportunity to share the gospel with that particular co-worker again. You may never get the chance to serve God in that capacity once you're out of this certain season, or you may not have the opportunity to show grace, kindness, and compassion to that complete stranger you'll never see again. Some opportunities only come once. Just because you don't take them doesn't mean someone else won't, but that also means someone else will get the blessings that were in store with that opportunity. You never know why God has given you the opportunities that He has, but if you trust Him and take them, you'll be amazed at the work He does through you and with you.
#967 - Because of the God-sized opportunities He call us to and helps us through.
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity." - Colossians 4:5