In his family's eyes, David would never be anything more than a shepherd (see 1 Samuel 16: 11-12). In God's eyes, however, he was Israel's next king.
It's funny how people start categorizing us the moment we were born. Someone says, "You just look so-so," or convince yourself that you're just an average student or a plain jane.
Before you know it, you begin to believe their opinions. Some people thought Timothy was too young to be a leader. That's why Paul wrote to him, "Do not let anyone think less of you because you're young ..." (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV).
Our list of other people's perceptible shortcomings can be hard and inconvenient. It includes things like being poor, being uneducated, having physical and mental challenges, or being ethnically different.
It even takes into account the stupid mistakes they made years ago. Would you like to be placed in the same category? I don't think so!
When Adam Clarke, one of England's most productive eighteenth century preachers, was young, his father told Adam's teacher that he did not think Adam would perform well in school.
The teacher replied, "He looks very smart and awake to me." Adam heard those words - and it changed his life by taking him out of the box where his father put him.
Clarke became seventy-two years old and became a famous Methodist preacher. Get rid of your limiting thoughts and start dreaming.
"Then what will we say about all these wonderful things? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? " With God on your side, you can reach the top of the ladder!