Be Great Before It’s Too Late (Part 2)

“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

There was once a multimillionaire in Texas who threw a grand barbecue at his mansion. In the center of his backyard was a massive swimming pool. As the guests mingled, he made an astonishing announcement: “Anyone who has the courage to jump into this pool and swim to the other side will receive anything they desire, anything at all.” The crowd murmured with excitement… until they reached the edge of the pool and saw it was filled with live alligators! Shocked, they asked, “Why would you make such an offer?” With a serious tone, the millionaire responded, “Because I value courage above all else. Fortune favors the bold. I want to reward the person with the greatest bravery.”

One by one, the guests backed away until suddenly, there was a splash! Everyone turned to see a man slicing through the water with determination and speed, dodging alligators as if his life depended on it. He reached the other side and climbed out, soaked but alive. The millionaire ran over, amazed. “I’ve never seen courage like that in my life! You can have anything. Just name it!” The man, still catching his breath, looked around and said, “I just want to know who pushed me in.”

Sometimes, life will push you into the water. You won’t feel ready. You won’t have a choice. But you’ll swim because something powerful will rise up in you that you didn’t know was there. 

Greatness is often revealed not in comfort, but in challenge.

It’s in the storms, setbacks, and moments when you’re blind, broken, or betrayed that your destiny begins to take shape.

Esther stepped into her purpose in a palace she never asked to enter. Samson defeated more enemies in weakness than he ever did in strength. Joseph rose from a pit to a palace because betrayal positioned him for purpose. The woman at the well became a voice of revival after a life of rejection. Paul’s prison became his pulpit. And David wasn’t called a warrior until he faced a giant no one else dared to challenge.

Don’t run from adversity. It might be the doorway to your greatest victory. When life pushes you in, rise up and swim. Because inside you is a conqueror, a champion, and a history-maker. Let God use your struggle to reveal your strength. Your hardest moments could become your greatest legacy.

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