Exposure + Access = Impact

For most of my life, I have navigated personal and professional development based on what I didn’t want for my future. I knew I didn’t want to struggle financially and because I often felt like a burden as a kid, I didn’t want to be a parent. I knew I didn’t just want a “job”. I knew I didn’t want to stay in my hometown. I knew I didn’t want the life that the young adults who raised me were living. So, every decision I made was predicated on doing the opposite of what I knew, what I saw, and what I had experienced. With that in mind, I became a first-generation college graduate and then went on to receive my master’s degree. I embarked on a career. I began seeing a therapist. I relocated to a different state. I started a business. I self-published a devotional. I traveled and explored the world- all with no guidance.

It wasn’t until all my prayers failed after being relocated back home due to the pandemic that I realized why my journey evolved the way it did. It wasn’t until my little cousin called asking me about college and careers that I understood my assignment. It wasn’t until I began speaking publicly about my testimony that I understood my impact. It wasn’t until I was asked to serve as a panelist, lead a webinar, consult for nonprofits, etc. that I began to understand that the very place I was running away from was exactly where I was called to. What I realized was that being exposed to all these things during my journey now enables me to be a walking demonstration and evidence of possibilities. Exposing others to their possibilities creates spaces and opportunities for them to access their dreams/calling and make the impact they were called to make in the world.

We are all individually created to be a small piece to a much larger puzzle, and we must do our part so that the next person can do theirs. There is no such thing as perfection, so don’t think God can’t use you if you have made some “mistakes”. If it makes you feel any better, the mistakes are usually what people benefit from the most. Hebrews 11 talks about all the Great Examples of Faith-Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Moses, and my personal favorite, Rahab. If you aren’t familiar, I encourage you to read this chapter and learn about the level of faith needed for them to accomplish the task God had assigned for them AND learn how God used ALL their story to advance the kingdom.

Now, think about how your life could be the Great Example of Faith that someone needs to see to do “that thing”.

If you want to hear more about this topic, Pastor Dharius Daniels of Change Church does an amazing teaching on the subject. Check it out below!