I remember the look on my school counselor’s face when I told her I was pregnant.

My junior year, a girl named Mandy K. and I got chosen to get ‘special testing’ to be able to compete in an academic decathlon for our school. Don’t act shocked. I was upfront when I TOLD y’all I was nerdy!

We sat across the table from adults giving us these verbal IQ tests, and TBH, it was a little stressful. But at the same time, I enjoyed it. I felt…SPECIAL. Like I had value. ESPECIALLY with my past (if you’re wondering what I’m talking about, glance through I WILL THRIVE – you’re about to take a ride!)

I lost out to Mandy, but it didn’t matter. The fact that I had made it that far was fuel in my furnace… Until a few months later. The same school counselor that put my name in the hat for that great opportunity is the counselor that was now helping me architect a plan to graduate a semester early so that I could take care of my new baby.

Re-route. Detour. Road closed ahead.

It may have looked like it was over, but let me tell you: NEVER give up on a dream because of a mistake you made. NEVER dismiss your destiny because of what happened to you. NEVER forfeit your future because of the time it will take to get back on the road. The time will pass anyway.

The only one that can hold us back is, well, us. How we limit our self-confidence is one of the biggest factors in whether or not we will succeed this year. We have to know WHO we are and WHOSE we are.

When God chose us (before the beginning of time!), He knew that we would screw up. BUT we’re in good company. He knew peeping King David would have an R-rated moment on a rooftop. He knew psycho Saul would condemn and kill Christians. He even knew depression-prone Elijah would want to die just after achieving his biggest victory. He knows what we already did, and what we’re going to do next. The good news is God’s plans don’t change.

If your guidance counselor, boss, parent, kids, friend, spouse, WHOEVER looks at you in disappointment – like my guidance counselor did – know this isn’t where you end. This is where you dig in. If you messed up, repent and start again. We have a gracious Father who wants to pick you up and help you start again. If somebody messed you up, forgive them and get back up. Know your Father in heaven is still betting on YOU.

You’re not a statistic, you’re a MOLD BREAKER. You don’t serve a God that says you’re ‘one and done’ when it comes to a mistake. He is the God of second chances, and He is still betting on you!

Want a plan to help you get to your DESTINY? I am walking my Circle of Friends through a Plan Developing workshop on Thursday night 7pm/CST on zoom. Not in my Circle? Check it out at nicolecrank.com/circle.