You Did Not See This Coming

 


You have no idea what God has placed inside you. Everyone has potential — but not everyone believes it. God saw your greatness long before you saw your weakness. He formed you with purpose, filled you with gifts, and called you to rise higher.

This message is for you — yes, you who feel invisible, overlooked, or stuck in the past. It’s time to step into what God has designed for you.

The Promise of Potential

From the very beginning, God’s word shows us that He does not intend for us to be unremarkable. He calls us to purpose. He longs for our potential to come alive.

Think of the scripture that says a little mustard seed grows into a large tree. Think of David, once tending sheep, eventually leading a nation. Think of Mary, a humble maiden, chosen to bear the Savior of the world. These stories remind us: our current label does not define our destiny.

If you’re wondering, “Can God really use someone like me?” the answer is a resounding yes. Because the same God who turned shepherds into kings and doubters into leaders is still writing stories of redemption today — and yours is next.

Why Your Past Doesn’t Have the Final Word

Maybe you’ve been wounded. Maybe you’ve failed. Maybe you’ve whispered, “This might be as good as it gets.”

But let me remind you: your past is the setup, not the solution.

• God doesn’t ask for your perfection. He asks for your presence.
• He doesn’t define you by what you’ve done, but by what He’s doing in you.
• Your scars can become your story — the place where God’s power shows up.

You might have looked in the mirror and only seen limitations. But God looked at you and saw possibilities. He looked at your broken pieces and saw a masterpiece in the making.

The Call to Rise Higher

God hasn’t invited you to simply survive — He’s calling you to thrive.

Rise from complacency. Let go of the “someday” mindset — the one that says, “If only I had more time… if only I had more resources…”

Rise from fear. Fear can paralyze us, whispering lies like “You’re not enough” or “You already messed up”. But what God says is: “You are enough in Me, My grace covers you.”

Rise because you’re called. Every person reading this has been formed with distinct gifts. Maybe you haven’t seen them yet. Maybe you haven’t used them yet. But they’re there. They’re being activated.

Now is your moment. The moment you say yes to the call. The moment you step into what you’ve always been capable of—because God paved the way.

Your Potential = God’s Promise Waiting for Your Participation

Here’s a simple equation: Your Potential = God’s Promise × Your Participation.

God’s promise is already made. He promised you life, and life more abundantly. He promised you hope, a future, a story. He promised that He will work all things for your good. (See Romans 8:28)

Your participation is your obedience, your faith, your willingness to show up. It’s the daily decisions:

  • choosing trust when doubt knocks

  • choosing faith when fear lingers

  • choosing action when comfort whispers, “Later…”

When promise and participation meet, potential explodes. That gift inside you—yes, the one you’re still discovering—will step forward.

And so I invite you: begin today. Not tomorrow. Not when circumstances are perfect. Today.

Here’s Your Moment of Truth

👉 Watch until the end for a powerful reminder of who you really are in Christ: Rise In Faith: Discover Your God-Given Potential

This video is not just another talk—it’s a gateway to seeing yourself differently. It’s a moment of transformation.

🙏 Subscribe for more faith-based talks that strengthen your walk with God.
đź’¬ Comment “I still have potential” if you believe your best days are still ahead.

How to Walk in Your Purpose Starting Now

1. Align Your Identity With God’s View

Every day, speak aloud what God says about you. “I am chosen.” “I am gifted.” “I will rise.” Those words are potent. They shape how you walk.

2. Activate One Gift

What is the one gift God has put in you that you’ve under-used? Maybe it’s compassion, maybe leadership, maybe teaching, maybe creative arts. Pick one. Use it this week in one small way.

3. Serve With Expectation

When you serve others—without waiting for reward—you open yourself to receive. Service aligns with purpose. And purpose fuels potential.

4. Expect the Unexpected

When you step in faith, you’ll find doors opening. Sometimes not in the way you anticipated. That’s okay. Stay flexible. God’s path sometimes zigzags.

5. Celebrate the Progress

Don’t wait until you’re “there” to celebrate. Celebrate every step. Every small victory. Let gratitude fuel your momentum.

Why God Planted This Message in You

He placed you on purpose.
You were never an accident. You were created for impact.

Maybe you’ve felt like you missed your window. Maybe you think someone else got the break you were supposed to have. Let me say this: your window is still open.

When York: the moment you stop seeing yourself through the lens of what you lacked — and start seeing yourself through the lens of what you carry—-everything changes.

You’ll begin to understand:

  • You’re not too late.

  • You’re not too tired.

  • You’re not too broken.

Because the same God who raised the dead is working in your life. The same God who parted seas is making a way for you. The same God who tucked David in alongside lions in the pit still engineers rescue stories.

You’re on the Verge of Something Big

I don’t know what exactly is ahead for you. But I do know this:

  • If you respond when He calls, the next chapter will be more than you imagined.

  • If you rise when He whispers, you’ll leave a legacy.

  • If you walk in faith even when you can’t see, you’ll discover strength you didn’t know you had.

This is your invitation. Your moment of decision.
Will you stay where you are, or will you rise?
Will you believe the voice of doubt, or will you believe the voice of promise?

I choose promise. Will you?

Final Word

Let this be the turning point. Let this be the moment you say: “Yes, I have potential. Yes, God can still use me. Yes, my best days are ahead.”

Your story isn’t finished. In fact, the greatest chapters may still be unwritten.
And when you walk in the gifts God has placed inside of you, you’ll discover that your potential is His promise waiting for your participation.

Thank you for allowing this message to penetrate your heart. Watch the video (linked above) and let the truth of your identity in Christ sink in. Then step forward. Rise. Let your potential be unleashed.

🎯 Subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/@douglasvandergraph
☕ Support the ministry: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/douglasvandergraph

#FaithMotivation #ChristianInspiration #GodsPlan #Potential #MotivationalVideo #FaithBasedTalk #Encouragement #Purpose #ChristianMotivation #DouglasVandergraph #JesusSaves #InspireFaith #FaithOverFear #MotivationWithGod #RiseInFaith

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