The first time I was invited to speak, after a long hiatus of 2 years, I sweat bullets.
The funny thing was- even though I knew what to say, I didn’t know what to wear.
I ended up wearing a suit.
I was trying to fit in, trying to impress.
After I spoke, it was a dear pastor who read through me and said, “Every time you get on that stage I want you to remember, you’re wearing your own jacket. Don’t try to be like anyone else. When you were there, I saw our Father put on a techni-colored coat on you. It was Joseph’s coat. It’s a coat that says He loves you, He has chosen you- and guess what? Others, like his brothers, will be upset and critique you. But wear your coat proudly. Walk in your unique anointing.”
Today, I met a talented lady discouraged by harsh words critiquing her emceeing. It reminded me of Theodore Roosevelt’s famous words:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Since then, something in me shifted.
I now choose what to wear with ease. I go on stage with my technicolored coat.
Today, whose words have you been discouraged by?
Remember, if you’ve been called to a special work with your unique gifts, there will be critics. But if you’ve been graced a platform to speak into the lives of others, in public or in private, know this- if God has given you a technicolored coat of anointing, wear it proudly. Wear it like a mantle. Rock it with ease. Don’t let anyone tear you down.
Joseph never did.