THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST 2026
Topic: You Are Not Behind
Bible Reference
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
A Short Story
Samuel was twenty seven, and he had started wondering whether he was already too late.
Some of his friends had built successful businesses. Others had secured good jobs, bought cars, travelled to different countries, or started families. Whenever he opened social media, it seemed as though everyone was moving forward except him.
Samuel had a small business that was barely growing. He was also learning a new skill, but the progress felt painfully slow.
One afternoon, he sat with a friend and said, “I think I have wasted too much time. Maybe I should have achieved more by now.”
His friend looked at him and asked, “Who told you that your life must follow their timetable?”
Samuel became quiet.
He realized that most of his frustration was not coming from his actual situation. It was coming from constantly comparing his journey with other people's journeys.
That evening, he returned home and looked at the small notebook where he had written his goals months earlier. He noticed something he had forgotten.
He had actually made progress.
It was not dramatic. It was not something he could proudly display on social media. But he had learned new skills, become more disciplined, grown spiritually, and taken steps he had once been afraid to take.
For the first time in a long while, Samuel thanked God for the little he had.
He decided that instead of spending his energy asking why he was not where someone else was, he would focus on becoming faithful with where God had placed him.
Today's Message
Comparison can make you despise your own journey.
You look at someone else's finished product and compare it with your beginning. You see their achievement but do not see the years of preparation, sacrifice, failure, and waiting behind it.
God does not measure your life by another person's timeline.
The Bible tells us not to despise small beginnings. Something may look small today and still become significant tomorrow.
Do not be ashamed of starting small. Do not be discouraged because your progress is not yet visible to everyone.
Your responsibility is to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands today.
You are not behind simply because someone else arrived before you.
Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep trusting God.
Your journey is your journey.
What To Do Today
1. Stop comparing your progress with what you see on social media.
2. Write down three areas where you have genuinely grown.
3. Identify one small step you can take toward your goal today.
4. Thank God for where you are while trusting Him for where you are going.
Prayer
Lord, deliver me from the pressure of comparison. Help me to appreciate my journey and remain faithful in small beginnings. Give me patience, discipline, and confidence to keep moving forward with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Write down three things you have accomplished or improved in the past year, no matter how small they may seem. Thank God for each one.
Anthony Ijere
Christian Author and Revivalist
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0 https://t.me/anthonyijereTHURSDAY 20TH AUGUST 2026
Topic: You Are Not Behind
Bible Reference
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
A Short Story
Samuel was twenty seven, and he had started wondering whether he was already too late.
Some of his friends had built successful businesses. Others had secured good jobs, bought cars, travelled to different countries, or started families. Whenever he opened social media, it seemed as though everyone was moving forward except him.
Samuel had a small business that was barely growing. He was also learning a new skill, but the progress felt painfully slow.
One afternoon, he sat with a friend and said, “I think I have wasted too much time. Maybe I should have achieved more by now.”
His friend looked at him and asked, “Who told you that your life must follow their timetable?”
Samuel became quiet.
He realized that most of his frustration was not coming from his actual situation. It was coming from constantly comparing his journey with other people's journeys.
That evening, he returned home and looked at the small notebook where he had written his goals months earlier. He noticed something he had forgotten.
He had actually made progress.
It was not dramatic. It was not something he could proudly display on social media. But he had learned new skills, become more disciplined, grown spiritually, and taken steps he had once been afraid to take.
For the first time in a long while, Samuel thanked God for the little he had.
He decided that instead of spending his energy asking why he was not where someone else was, he would focus on becoming faithful with where God had placed him.
Today's Message
Comparison can make you despise your own journey.
You look at someone else's finished product and compare it with your beginning. You see their achievement but do not see the years of preparation, sacrifice, failure, and waiting behind it.
God does not measure your life by another person's timeline.
The Bible tells us not to despise small beginnings. Something may look small today and still become significant tomorrow.
Do not be ashamed of starting small. Do not be discouraged because your progress is not yet visible to everyone.
Your responsibility is to be faithful with what God has placed in your hands today.
You are not behind simply because someone else arrived before you.
Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep praying. Keep working. Keep trusting God.
Your journey is your journey.
What To Do Today
1. Stop comparing your progress with what you see on social media.
2. Write down three areas where you have genuinely grown.
3. Identify one small step you can take toward your goal today.
4. Thank God for where you are while trusting Him for where you are going.
Prayer
Lord, deliver me from the pressure of comparison. Help me to appreciate my journey and remain faithful in small beginnings. Give me patience, discipline, and confidence to keep moving forward with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Daily Challenge
Write down three things you have accomplished or improved in the past year, no matter how small they may seem. Thank God for each one.
©️ Anthony Ijere
Christian Author and Revivalist
https://chat.whatsapp.com/BDs9qaNMQumKTicv7uU7SJ?s=cl&p=a&mlu=0&ilr=0
https://t.me/anthonyijere
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