Nothing captures our attention quite like a good “rags-to-riches” story. Even as little kids, we are drawn to Cinderella stories: Someone unlikely, a “nobody”, who becomes “somebody” even though the deck is stacked against them.

• Dolly Parton grew up in a small cabin with 11 siblings and no indoor plumbing. She became one of the most accomplished and influential entertainers in American history. She has used her influence to elevate and bless millions of others through her charitable involvement.
• Chris Gardner, whose story inspired the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, went from a struggling single father to a multi-millionaire stockbroker. Experiencing hardship and homelessness along the journey to stability and financial success, he now devotes time and resources to helping disadvantaged families and children.

More recently, Ray Kerr is currently heralded as the lefty pitcher who helped the Atlanta Braves baseball team win the National League East Championship Series and advance to the Division Series this year. He went from an unstable home life and sleeping in a tent in his younger years, to working in a movie theatre and a 7-11 convenience store, to a 12-year difficult journey that made him a Major League Baseball standout. He has inspired many people who feel life has passed them by that it is never too late to chase their dream.

A story that strikes my family personally: Jahvaine is a young man who lived in a shack with a dirt floor in Jamaica. While in a boys’ home for orphans, a mission team from Atlanta met him, saw his potential, and invested in his spiritual and educational development. He will graduate from the island’s medical school in just a few weeks. His desire is to help the people of Jamaica and to encourage young people that circumstances may make things feel impossible, “but with God, all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

These life-progression stories show us that just because you are in a particular circumstance doesn’t mean you have to stay there. The grit that you show as you work toward something more is a testimony to the effort. A relationship with Jesus can shore you up with strength as you work through the process, perseverance when the journey seems long, and companionship when you feel alone.

Many Biblical examples show the Lord’s steadfast love and faithfulness as He helped unlikely people move into higher places.

• Joseph was the son of a landowner, was betrayed by his brothers, and became a slave for many years. Through diligence and God’s favor, he became second in command in the country of Egypt and was able to save the budding nation of Israel from annihilation by starvation. (Genesis 37-50)
• Moses came from a family/nation of slaves. As a baby, he was floated down a river in an attempt to save his life. He was found and adopted by a member of a royal family and raised in a palace. But then he committed murder and became a fugitive. 40 years later, God called him out of the wilderness to lead an entire nation out of captivity to the threshold of the land the Lord had promised to them. (Exodus 1-14)
• Esther was an orphan in a foreign land, forced into the king’s service. The Lord allowed her to be chosen by the king of Persia to be his queen. She was able to use her position and God’s wisdom to save her people from destruction by thwarting the scheme of a wicked advisor to the king. (Esther 1-10)

Each of the people mentioned in the above stories has a common thread: a relationship with God that carried them to the impactful place to which they ascended. Each person used or is using their position to bless others and testify to the faithfulness of the Lord.

The most magnificent story of a rise from humble beginnings is of our Creator and Savior, Jesus the Christ, the King of Heaven, who came as a baby born in an animal feeding trough. He grew up in a hard-working family, then began a ministry to teach all people their value and God’s love for them regardless of gender, social status, or race. He died even more humbly than he was born, willingly suffering death on a cross. BUT He rose from the dead and now sits on a heavenly throne, exalted as Lord over ALL!

Philippians 2:8-9 – “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.”

The stars of the stories mentioned never should have “made it”. They came from lowly circumstances and through difficulties no one would choose but rose to positions where they did choose to impact and influence others in a meaningful way. Jesus not only chose His humble beginning, life, and death, He CHOSE to die in our place; He CHOSE to raise Himself from the dead, and He CHOSE to offer eternal salvation to each human. Why? He loves us. No human but Jesus has the power and authority to choose these things. Jesus did not die as a king here on earth, but whether we CHOOSE to follow Him or not, He IS Lord over ALL. And one day:

“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2: 10-11