People are full of opinions and many will have their beliefs on what we can and cannot do and who we should become. Sometimes these insights are helpful and provide useful feedback on our path forward. But many other times people are simply trying to place us in the box of their limited expectations. And rather than merely accepting their verdict on us, we prove them wrong by the life we live.
For instance, sometimes our family might struggle to see us beyond our childhood roles. They remember what we were like as a boy and have their opinions on what this now means for us as a man. However well meaning, we must reject their opinions of us when it holds us back from who God has called us to be. And we prove them wrong by faithfully becoming all that God has for us.
Likewise, people might question our capabilities due to our age, background, or other characteristics. Whatever it looks like, we don’t fit the mold of their expectations and they’re not always subtle in sharing their opinion with us. But instead of letting their opinions take us out, we prove them wrong by letting the power of God work through us all the same – surpassing human expectations.
To be fair, this is not about trying to convince others of our worth or capabilities. They might always see us in a certain way. Proving them wrong is more about reminding ourselves we don’t have to live in the limitations others might try to place on us. And we do this by actively doing what God has called us to do despite their opinions of us otherwise.
We shortchange ourselves when we allow the opinions of others to set the terms for our life.
In the end, people’s opinions of you are not the ultimate verdict on your worth or capabilities. Prove others wrong by courageously becoming all that God has called you to be anyway.
Photo by Filip Rankovic Grobgaard on Unsplash
