We’re living in a day where people can express their opinion more easily than ever, not just in person but on social media. Some people you’ve never met, living a thousand miles away, yet they have an opinion on what you wear, what you believe, how you raise your kids, what you had for dinner last night. They’ve never talked to you, never gotten to know who you are, never sat down and had lunch. Why are you worrying about what they think? Why are you giving time and energy by responding to their comments, trying to explain what you meant? Some people are determined to misunderstand you. Their comment is not really about you; it shows what’s in them. They have issues they haven’t dealt with. They’re angry, they’re upset. Don’t be surprised if they find fault with you. No offense, but they’re not going where you’re going. If you try to please everyone, win their approval, you’ll not only miss the new levels that belong to you, but you’ll miss the joy, the peace, the victory of this day.

When life tries to push you down, step on you, take your health, squash your dreams, you have to get back up again. Outlast what’s trying to defeat you. The power in you is greater than any power that’s trying to stop you. The Scripture says, “A good person falls seven times but gets back up again.” You have “come back” power. God wouldn’t have allowed the adversity if it was going to finish you off. It’s just another step on the way to your destiny.

God will come right where you are, into the lion’s den, into the fiery furnace, into the accusing voices, into the club, into the hospital. Like the Palmist said, to lift you out of the dirt and messy places, and set you among princes. It’s good to thank God for promotion, thank Him for favor, but we should also thank Him for stooping down. “Lord, thank You for getting your hands dirty. Thank You for coming to the messy places of my life. Thank You for restoring me when I was broken, redeeming me when I failed, healing me when I was hurting.”

We’re living in a day where people can express their opinion more easily than ever, not just in person but on social media. Some people you’ve never met, living a thousand miles away, yet they have an opinion on what you wear, what you believe, how you raise your kids, what you had for dinner last night. They’ve never talked to you, never gotten to know who you are, never sat down and had lunch. Why are you worrying about what they think? Why are you giving time and energy by responding to their comments, trying to explain what you meant? Some people are determined to misunderstand you. Their comment is not really about you; it shows what’s in them. They have issues they haven’t dealt with. They’re angry, they’re upset. Don’t be surprised if they find fault with you. No offense, but they’re not going where you’re going. If you try to please everyone, win their approval, you’ll not only miss the new levels that belong to you, but you’ll miss the joy, the peace, the victory of this day.

Are you stressed out because a situation is not turning around? You’re praying, believing, but nothing is improving. You have to outlast it. You can’t pray it away; you can’t make it work out. You have to trust God’s timing. He knows what He’s promised you; He knows what He put in your heart. When it’s your time, it will come to pass.

God is saying, “I’ve taken care of your past. I’ve forgiven your mistakes. I’ve planned beauty for the ashes, joy for the mourning, healing for the hurts, new beginnings for the loss.” Don’t waste your time making plans to escape the hurts, the pain. If you’re going to build anything, build a tower of hope, a tower of faith. Believe that your past is forgiven, that the threats are gone, that what’s held you back has been broken. You are free to step into the favor, blessing, and joy that God has destined for you. Listen now to this new message from Joel, "Freedom From Your Past": https://bit.ly/3rn12N

If Moses had gotten stuck in the past, he would have never delivered the Israelites, never parted the Red Sea, never seen manna in the desert, never had water out of a rock. The best part of his life happened after a failure, after he had spent years running from his past. Who knows where God will take you if you’ll quit running from your past, dwelling on your hurts, reliving the trauma, hiding your gifts. Friends, your past has been cleared by Christ on the cross two thousand years ago. Everything that was trying to harm you, that’s done. There’s a rainbow in the sky; there's not going to be another flood. There is no use building a tower, building walls, building defenses, planning on more trauma. Why don’t you receive the mercy, receive the forgiveness? You may have had some ashes, but God has beauty coming. Pharoah may have chased you through the Red Sea, but there’s a Promised Land awaiting you.

Are you answering to something that you’re not? Quit giving your time and energy, letting those negative thoughts play. That’s not who you are. When voices whisper that you’re washed up, guilty, unworthy, a failure, recognize what’s happening. They’re trying to rename you. You are not who people call you. You are what you answer to. Answer to victorious, more than a conqueror, fearfully and wonderfully made.