“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”

“Success and achievement are not synonymous; success follows achievement.”

Everyone wants to start at the top. You might hope for the big and important opportunities first, but that is not how life works. You may look at the ease with which someone does their job so successfully, and assume that you could do it just as easily.

I just went through what you read above! Dealing with people that don't respect you or your skills, and think that what you do is easy and takes no effort. Boy are they ever mistaken! If you never learn anything in life: LEARN TO RESPECT ANOTHER PERSON'S SKILLS!

But you do not know all that prepared them to succeed, how long they worked to develop their skills, the struggles and mistakes and resulting lessons learned, the life experience that prepared them, the small responsibilities in which they proved themselves along the way. And when their opportunity came, they were ready for it. Every “overnight success” takes a long time coming.

More often than not, people who enjoy too quick a promotion and success usually don’t handle it well, or enjoy it long. They haven’t been carefully schooled and prepared. They seldom have had time to learn to handle promotion. Mistakenly, a person can think it is all about what they alone have done, instead of what really happens – people along the way see potential and purpose, and in kindness and generosity gave opportunities to succeed. As I look back across my life, anything that I have been allowed to do or become has been the direct result of the grace of God and the graciousness of a lot of people toward me. I have given the effort, but others have given their help. Don’t confuse success and achievement. Everyone wants success with all its benefits, privileges and rewards they see others enjoy. But true success only follows achievement, and that takes time and requires hard work. The world and its culture prize the product more than the process. Achievement requires that you reach for it with diligence, sacrifice, and much effort, but success comes because you are ready for it. Be careful and be wise. Success can result in ultimate failure. It can subtly corrupt your values and cloud your judgment, making you proud when you should be humble or greedy when you should be generous. Hold it gratefully and lightly; use it wisely. Achievement and success begin right now with what you have. Jesus taught, “If you have not been faithful in that which is least, you will not be faithful in that which is much. If you have not been faithful with riches, who will give you true wealth? If you have not been faithful in what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? Be faithful; it’s the little things you do today that are preparing you for the bigger things to come. Success may seem to come overnight, but it was built upon every achievement made along the way.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

In Spite of the Odds, and Opposition If you are going through a difficult time right now, read these words: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”. Underscore the word “surely.” It’s God’s guarantee! When does God cause your cup to overflow with blessing? When does He empower you to overcome? When does He demonstrate His goodness and mercy? In the presence of your enemies! The odds and the opposition can’t stop God from blessing you! “But I’m really struggling,” you say. Struggle is proof that you haven’t been conquered, that you refuse to surrender, that victory is still possible, and that you’re growing. As long as you keep walking with God and trusting Him, He will work on your behalf. He will send His spirit to guide you, His Word to illuminate your mind, and friends to strengthen you in your time of struggle. If you’re teachable, you’re reachable. Keep your heart open, keep listening to God, keep obeying Him and you will: (1) See that your problem is just a platform for Him to “show himself strong on your behalf” . (2) Discover that His strength comes when you’re at your weakest point Be able to thank God for your enemies, because He’s promised to bless you right there in front of them. People and circumstances don’t decide your future, God does, so look to Him!

My prayer for you today is that you will be trusted and blessed with God’s best.