Around the corner can be a nice surprise

One evening in my living room, I was watching a new episode of America’s Got Talent ‘the Champions.’ The show featured winners, finalists and other contestants from previous seasons of America’s Got Talent and also acts from other ‘Got Talent’ franchises from around the world. Yet, one contestant, a former winner; a singer from Great Britain named Paul Potts, held my attention.

In 2007, Potts, a British tenor, won Britain’s Got Talent. His rendition of the song he sang brought unexpected looks of awe from the judges of the show. And Potts received a standing ovation from the audience.

Humble, Pott’s appeared unaware of his extraordinary talent. Before he won the competition, he was a mobile phone salesman by day. The world of show business seemed a million miles away. But Pott’s always had a dream to spend his life doing what he believed he was born to do, being a professional opera singer.

In interviews, he told reporters that he had been bullied in school. He was shy, with low self-esteem. Potts suffered from illnesses and even broke his collarbone in a bicycle accident. Additionally, he had financial difficulties. Feeling discouraged, alone and forgotten, negative, his inner thoughts could have said, “You can’t do it,” “You’ll never make it,” or “You’re in over your head.” It would have been easy for him to talk himself out of pursuing his dream.

However, Pott’s found the strength to persevere. In spite of challenges and regardless that he had not sung in years, Pott’s took a step in faith and entered the show, Britain’s Got Talent.

Back in my living room, when I observed and listened to the outstanding, incredible vocals that only God could give to Paul Potts, I was captivated and mesmerized to tears. Maybe it was because I saw myself in him. Certainly, most of us can see ourselves in him, for at one time or another; we were the unlikely one, downcast, feeling alone and forgotten, and sometimes unsure.

Yet we, too, can overcome the opposition and win! When an ordinary person works together with an extraordinary God, there is nothing we cannot accomplish or achieve.

God has chosen you. And from God’s perspective, you’re strong, fully adequate, competent, and valuable; “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Psalm 139:14). You’re endowed with a gift. Therefore, take the exceptional gift God has given to you and make the very most of it.

It may take time to accomplish your goals, so do not lose heart. Too often, we expect our aspirations to come to pass immediately, because we may be used to instant results in our fast-paced society. If we cannot have what we want instantaneously, we can succumb and give up. But most times, we have to go through a process of constant effort, steadfast fortitude and continue to strive even when we do not see things happening right away. Once, a minister told me a memorable story. He said he was driving on an unfamiliar road, began to get lost and kept thinking that he should turn back. This went on for quite a while. It started to get dark outside and he began to be- come afraid that he was going to get disoriented. Well, he decided keep on going forward; and just a few miles up the road, he found his way back on track. He was closer to his destination than he would have been if he had turned around. The moral of the narrative is that many times we do not know how close we are to something special, and then we get fearful and turn back, missing what God has in store for us. If we give up, we will never know how close we were to success. It might be just around the next curve in the road.

A while back a reader wrote, “I have persevered through the worst. But I always, with faith in God and in myself, continued on and eventually did well.” It doesn’t matter what you’re going through, you can triumph over past mistakes, rise above difficulties and surmount even the most staggering odds.

We must rid ourselves of inner conflicts, being critical and negative, lacking confidence, and thinking that we will never amount to anything significant. Forget the setbacks of yesterday. Believe in your own worth; and with a humble yet reasonable confidence, develop a healthy self-respect.

Thus, walk with your head held high and remember who you are… a child of an all-powerful, all-loving God. And with His strength, you can conquer anything that tries to come up against you. It is not too late to discover all the wonder that you can achieve, to attain the desires of your heart, to grow to your full potential, and offer it to others in the form of ser- vice, blessing mankind.

And so keep trying. Get out of your comfort zone. God is soon going to do something significant in your life. Do not shrink back in fear when new opportunities come your way. Recently, while shopping at a craft store, I saw a wooden wall art plaque that read: “Do it… afraid.” So stretch; dream a bigger dream. Don’t settle for less than what you really want for yourself. Keep pursuing what God has put into your heart. Around the corner can be a nice surprise.

God opened a door that Paul Pott’s couldn’t open on his own.

And God can do the same for you. New opportunities; new relationships, and breakthroughs are in store for your future.

Hence believe again, dream again, and make an effort once again. Do what you can; and in His time, God will do the rest.

Since Potts came to public fame, he has recorded chart-topping albums and sold out concert halls worldwide. Paul Potts, a gentleman from South Wales who no one paid attention to, who was bullied as a child, felt insignificant, endured years of illness and financial debt, and with no formal training triumphed winning the entire talent competition. And he even performed for the Queen of England. His life story was even turned into a Hollywood movie, “One Chance.”

There’s so much more ahead for you. As long as we honor God, there are no impossible dreams. Overnight, situations can positively change.

Hold on, work hard, and keep the faith.

And I will be here to cheer you on.

Remember, God is rooting for you and so am I.

Catherine Galasso Vigorito