Don't let your present circumstances limit your future

Sometimes the greatest truths are found in the simplest words. Recently, I came across a sentence that reflects this. "Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start."

As I read these words I immediately thought how they applied to every aspect of life. Whether you are talking about your personal life, your family, your business, your career, your church, your future, these words apply.

So often we hear people downplay any hope for a better life because of their past or their present circumstance. They repeat to every one they know all the reasons why their lives can never be better than it is right now. They may point to a lack of education, a lack of opportunity, a poor upbringing, a string of broken relationships and a host of other reasons why they are stuck in life with no hope of ever improving their situation.

Churches do the same thing. As a denominational leader I heard every excuse why a church was stuck and unable to move forward. I heard about previous pastors who did not serve the church well. I heard about controllers in the church that held the church captive for years. I heard about explosive business meetings. I heard about generational issues that focused on music and worship styles. I heard every excuse in the book and some that probably weren't included in any book.

These are all just excuses that ignore the power of God to change your circumstances so you can go further than you've ever gone before. Read the quote again: "Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." Yes, some of us have to start further back than others because of our present circumstances, but that doesn't prevent us from accomplishing great things. We simply have to choose to rise above those circumstances and do the things that will take us where we want to go.

No matter how broken you may be, God wants you well. Businesses have risen from the ashes of bankruptcy to become strong and successful. Individuals have come out of dire circumstances to become leaders in their communities. Families have overcome tremendous challenges to become healthy and whole. Churches have conquered everything the enemy could throw at it to become mighty for the Kingdom of God. The transformations in every case came when people made the decision to refuse to allow their present circumstances to determine their futures.