Several years ago, I was giving a public speech. Everything was going amazingly well. The Lord worded my mouth and the audience connected with the message. It was great! But there was a group of people in the crowd that didn't particularly agree with what I had to say. That's pretty normal. You can never please everyone.
But I didn't anticipate what they would do that day.
As I was in the middle of talking, the "unhappy group" of about twenty people in total, got up and exited.
What?!! How rude. How mean-spirited. How could they?! That's how it was supposed to make me feel. But I refused to let it get the best of me. "I know who I am," I thought to myself. "And I know I'm saying what God gave me to say."
So... what did I do next?
Well, there was a pretty sizable crowd there, and the disruption of a concentrated group of people leaving mid-sentence, was hard to ignore.
Others noticed them departing and it was a major distraction. They had to step over other people, which meant others had to stand to let them by, which meant the people behind them couldn't see, which meant, I had a large portion of the audience completely engrossed in this distraction!
Would others be influenced by them and leave too? I couldn't be sure of that. But I was certain of my conviction and my calling to do and say exactly what I was doing and saying that day.
Certainly, I must admit that the mass exodus didn't make me feel so good. In truth, I was put off by their behavior. I bet you're still wondering what I did... well, I certainly wasn't going to give the enemy the pleasure of seeing me fall apart.
Here's what I did. I prayed within myself and kept right on talking. I stopped focusing on the distraction and began focusing on completing my assignment.
You know what happened? After they exited, no one else left. As a matter of fact, the audience was even more engaged, and they received everything they were supposed to. Things turned out wonderfully.
That experience wasn't funny then, but my husband and I laugh about it now. Turns out that this group of people was known for pulling the same stunt with other people too. So, it wasn't their first time, and it wouldn't be their last.
I was so glad I didn't fold under the pressure. I was thankful that God reminded me of who I was in that moment when I needed it most. It got me through a pretty tough experience.
I wonder, can you say with certainty, "I know who I am?" Are you able to confidently hold your head up in any situation, without questioning your unique capabilities? If not, I want to show you how.
First, you must recognize that there will always be opposing voices and forces that come against you on your journey. You may as well accept it; the sooner you do, the less affected you'll be by detractors. Conditions will not always be favorable, and neither will the opinions of others.
But you can't allow a little opposition to act as a deterrent in your life. Rather, let it propel you to the next dimension of blessing and productivity.
I'll tell you why this lesson is so important.
If your belief about yourself is tied to the favor of people, and the favorableness of your life's circumstances, you're building upon an unstable foundation. You're inevitably setting yourself up to be let down. People change their minds like the wind changes direction. And the storms of life will sometimes come up out of the blue.
Don't let that move you.
Stand firmly in your faith. Stay true to your convictions. Know that detraction is the enemy's number one tool for distraction. No matter who/what comes or goes, your confidence must be in the God of your salvation. He alone can show you who you are. Only He can validate you and fortify your spirit.
It's not your job to try to confront every affront. You just be mindful of who you are and whose you are. The Lord will defend your honor and elevate you for His glory!
Until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
