I have a friend who had an idea for a business, but he was turned down by thirty-one banks. Thirty-one experts told him it wasn't a good idea, it was a waste of time, and he would never make it profitable. But this young man wouldn't give up despite the closed doors. He believed in his idea, and he expected to make it a reality. When God puts a dream in your heart, it won't go away. You can push it down and try to ignore it, but that seed is still alive. Banker number thirty-two said he liked the idea, the funding came through, the business took off and has expanded all over the world, more than he could ever imagine.
My question is, what would have happened if he had stopped at banker number thirty-one?
Is there something you've been tempted to give up on, to take the easy way out, to slack off of—a dream, a relationship, a job? You may have a good reason to walk away, to back off and not be your best, but God is saying, "Stay committed, stay determined, keep doing the right thing." Committed people stick with a marriage even when they have a right to walk away. Committed people go the extra mile and do more than they have to. Committed people show up at church when they don't feel like it. Committed people see God open doors they could never open and dreams come to pass.
Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people. Proverbs 3:3–4 MSG