Quiet the Critic
Channel: Coach Bobby Bluford
Date: 2022-05-27

Jeremiah 29:11 

”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”


Think for a moment: how different is the world now than it was ten, twenty, thirty years ago?  The answer is simple.  VERY!  It is VERY different.  In so many ways.  But perhaps the most prevalent way is in the challenge of dreaming; more specifically, in hunting one’s dream.

At the writing of this, yours truly- Coach Bobby- is nearing his (my) 50th Birthday.  When I was a teenager, I dreamt of greatness on the football field, hoping to one day be drafted, sign a contract, and don the uniform of a National Football League team.  

Years later, after earning my MBA, I traded my cleats and helmet for a shirt and tie, dreaming of running a Finance Department for a major company.

And yet a few more years later, my focus shifted yet again, this time towards being the best thought leader I could be in the health and fitness world, while being the best father and husband I could be in my personal world.

None of that sounds all that groundbreaking, right?

But consider this. I almost never had to worry about anyone else.  All I had to do was focus on my growth and my personal pursuit.  Of MY DREAM. That was it.  

There wasn’t Instagram yet.  Or Tik Tok.  Or YouTiube.  Or Snapchat.  In fact, Facebook hadn’t even been introduced to the world until I was well into my second or third dream of greatness.

Why does any of that matter for you? What does it have to do with the pursuit of YOUR dream.  Well, it’s simple.  

I never forgot who I was.  Even when I stumbled.  Even when I failed.  I never forgot.  More importantly, I never forgot WHOSE I was.  I knew of God’s plans for me and my life.  I could feel it in my soul.  I didn’t always know exactly what He had planned for me - still don’t- but I knew then, and I know now, that He has SOMETHING for me.  Something Amazing.
 
The same is true for you.  I promise.  But more importantly…

HE PROMISED.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 
- Jeremiah 29:11

He didn’t promise things would be smooth.  He didn’t promise you’d always understand.  He didn’t promise it would always feel good.  And most importantly, He didn’t promise that the world would agree with you.  Or Him.

And it often doesn’t, right?  I mean, the world.  It often doesn’t seem to agree with God’s promise.  That you are destined for greatness.  That teacher who didn’t think you could make it in her class didn’t seem to agree.  That coach that belittled you certainly didn’t seem to agree.  And all those naysayers who comment on your Social Media posts seem to vehemently DISAGREE with God’s plan for you.

But they don’t matter.  None of them do.  

What matters is your faith.  Your faith in your God.  And your faith in your spirit.

So when times get hard- and they certainly will.  And when you begin to doubt your value- and you certainly will.  Remember this: you are amazing and your gift is rare.  He has plans for you.  No matter what it looks like now.

And if it’s still hard to get your mind in the right space, do what I do.  When I doubt that I’m worth anything, I picture God whispering in my ear:

“Are you gonna believe them..or are you gonna believe me?”  

I, for one, choose to believe His words.  Not theirs!  I hope you do, too.