In between college semesters, I spent a summer working in the sheriff’s office in New Orleans. It may seem like an odd job, but it was the perfect setup for me. The sheriff’s office had a solid softball team, and my brother coached at the University of Tulane. So, I worked during the day, then played softball and trained with the football team in the evenings.
Several times that summer, a famous NFL quarterback came to work with the Tulane quarterbacks. Each time this large man walked through the door, three small boys trailed behind him—probably about 8, 6 and 2.
Had I known then who Archie Manning’s sons would become, I would have asked them to sign my football, even if they only signed in scribbles!
Two of Archie’s sons, Peyton and Eli Manning, became Hall of Fame NFL quarterbacks. As successful as these brothers became, though, I’m sure they would be honest about where they started.
There might have been other athletes more physically gifted than they were, but they had one unique advantage—a father who cared about them enough to help them reach their full potential.
Every time I see these brothers on TV, I’m reminded that we have a Father even more committed to helping us reach our potential. And our heavenly Father is not bound by human limitations; He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving!
Abraham, the father of our faith, experienced this kind of relationship with God. He ultimately allowed his Heavenly Father to lead him into his potential, but like most of us, he had a humble start. In Genesis 12:1, we first read of God calling Abraham into his potential. Just before making Abraham a grand promise, God revealed the struggles he would have to overcome to receive it.
The verse says, “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you…’”
This verse may be short, but in it, we find three things Abraham had to leave behind to make progress on God’s pathway for his life. We all must do the same.
First, we must leave behind cultural norms. As Ephesians 2:3 says, believers are called to live differently than unbelievers. We’ll also have to leave behind peer pressure. We can’t transform to become like unbelievers; we must constantly renew our mind to become more like Christ. Then, we’ll have to leave behind our father’s failings—generational issues threatening to hold us back from God’s best. We resist these potential-robbers through consistent prayer, diligent planning, godly mentorship, and biblical confession.
We can’t stop at simply resisting what’s wrong, though; we also must cling to what’s right! We must embrace what God says brings potential: empathy for ourselves and awareness of His ability. When we recognize our human limitations, we more easily rest in God’s sovereignty, trusting His path that leads to progress.
Friends, God is and always has been the greatest Father. You can trust Him!
