Have you ever heard the saying, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy?” If you grew up in a home like mine then you know no line could be more accurate. You see, my mom was stronger than vinegar. She allowed no attitudes of laziness or wastefulness in our house. She got me my first job mowing lawns when I was 8 years old, and insisted that I continued to work throughout high school. Although it was not always fun at the time, having parents who challenged me has proven to be one of the biggest blessings in my life. I knew they saw something great on the inside of me, and that caused me to desire certain principles that would bring that greatness into my life.

Unfortunately, as I got older I recognized that not everyone was given the advantage of having parents like mine. Some were never praised; others were never corrected. They lacked confidence because of their parents’ lack of confidence in them. This saddened me, but it also caused me to recognize the significant role the Heavenly Father plays in the lives of His children. In Jeremiah 29:11 he says, “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Maybe you have experienced the kind of family life I referred to. Maybe you were overlooked or lacked direction from your physical parents. Guess what? Your Heavenly Father sees you, and he has a plan for you! And not just any plan-- He has the exact blueprint needed to fulfill the desires he has placed on the inside of your heart.

You were created for a specific purpose, and he wants to reveal that purpose to you. But first, you must be open to accepting his blueprint. Once you submit your future to him, you will see it begin to take shape. It may take time to reach the desired destination, but remember that God’s plans never fail.  He can and will lead you into an awesome future!

Though this future is ultimately worth any amount of difficulty we could face, we all know that there will be obstacles along the way. But whether they are old habits or closed doors, it is essential that we keep them out of focus and fix our eyes on our Guide. Allowing distractions to hinder us eventually leads to an unfinished race and missed opportunities for an amazing future. Discouragement may be able to hold us from our destiny, but belief can turn any bitterness into blessing.

So, if you are feeling discouraged about where you’re headed, take comfort in this-- God has already designed your life’s blueprint. He has mapped out for you a life greater than you could ever imagine! As you follow God’s path and choose to focus on him, you will find that the life being built is one more beautiful than you could have ever built alone.