As I was sitting in my office this week thinking about the new goals and ventures I have, and pushing through the process of traditional publishing for my first book, I came across a statistic that 98 percent of people die without fulfilling their dreams.
This immediately encouraged me to continue to follow my dreams and to do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true. But what really inspired me (hopefully it will inspire you too) is the story of Dorothy May Steel, a 92-year-old actor who stepped out on faith believing in God to realize her dream of being chosen for a major film. In the end, Steel landed a role in the billion-dollar movie Black Panther.
In it, she plays a tribe leader in the fictional land of Wakanda. Steel ended up landing the part of the merchant tribal elder who advises the King of Wakanda played by lead actor Chadwick Boseman. What amazed me is the fact that Steel did not begin acting professionally until the age of 88.
“I dared to jump,” Steel said in a recent news article, before adding, “I jumped at my dream and I realized my dream.”
Wow, that’s a mighty testimony. But the one thing that I know about the God I serve, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is that what He has done for others, He can surely do for you too.
-It doesn’t matter how old you are – come here Abraham; you will have a son in your old age. Abraham was 100 and his wife Sarah was beyond what they thought was childbearing years.
-It doesn’t matter how young you are – come here David; you are the next king of Israel. David had seven older brothers.
-It doesn’t matter what season you’re in, or whether it feels like you’re losing instead of winning – come here Job. Job lost everything – children, possessions, and was even discouraged by those around him. But he remained strong in his faith. For it, God gave him double for his trouble.
Time and time again, whether through the Bible, or modern stories like Steel daring to jump, God has given us evidence that stepping out on faith really works.
The reason why 98 percent of people die without fulfilling their dreams is due to fear. Please know that God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power (2 Timothy 1:7).
And in the words of Steel, who in a recent video described her walk of faith to land a role in Black Panther, says, “whatever your dream is, don’t procrastinate, prognosticate.”
Prognosticate means to prophetically speak it into existence, to visually see yourself accomplishing whatever it is you want to achieve.
Like Steel, I dare you to jump; to step out on faith and trust God to do the impossible in your life.
But let me leave you with a faith tip. It’s a tip that a ministerial friend of mine shared with me at church this past Sunday: once you stop focusing on “how” and “when” it will happen for you, then your walk with faith will be a lot easier.
Simply allow God show up as a result of your faith in Him. I double dog dare you to jump. Once you do (though there may be a few obstacles to overcome), watch how God moves in your life. Who knows, you just might be the next Black Panther.
UPDATED: I recently jumped and now I have an international daily Christian podcast on Apple iTunes and Google Play. You can listen to one of the episodes here.