Hope in Front of Me

by Danny Gokey

  You can feel the strength that comes from the most unlikely places and in the most unexpected ways. It is confirmed in our drive to continue in the midst of impossible odds, in our will to stand when it is easy to fall, in our endurance when it would just be easier to give up. Just because something is unseen doesn’t mean it is uncertain, impossible, or foolish.

  Hope is unseen — that is, until you start looking for it. Then you find it in the face of a little child whose stomach is now full, the smile of a father who knows his family is safe and warm, and the strength of an individual to finally kick an addiction that has been kicking him for years.

  Some question whether God exists. I don’t. I see Him everywhere. And I see Him most often among the poor, hungry, homeless, and hopeless. We are closest to God when we are with people in need. Why? Because they remind us that we are in need of faith, hope, and love too.

  I Believe

  Belief is a tricky thing. We want to possess it because we think we can control it. But belief in things we can control really isn’t belief at all. Instead, we must believe in what we have yet to experience because that is what is required to find hope.

  I believe your best days are ahead of you. You have likely been through a lot. I have too. If you’ve lived any length of time on this earth, you have experienced difficulty and disappointment. Hope reminds us the best is yet to come.

  I believe you have yet to discover the depths of your giftedness. Every obstacle we overcome teaches us about life and about ourselves. You are living in the midst of your destiny right now and may not even realize it. It may be years before you are able to connect the dots. But hope points us forward.

  I believe you have good things in your future. No matter how high you’ve been or how low you’ve gone, there are good things in your future. You were created to do great things. And starting that journey begins right where you are today. You won’t fully understand the direction you’re headed, but you can be certain that today is laying the groundwork for something special.

  I believe your destiny is greater than what you can dream today. Every step of the way will feel new. I couldn’t have predicted or imagined the different twists and turns that my life would take. But I did have a sense that what was coming was greater than where I was and where I had been. If I had never let go of the pain in my past, I couldn’t have reached forward to what was coming.

  I believe you have a divine purpose. Your life is full of meaning and purpose. That doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen. I can assure you they will. But when you remember that your life is a constant unfolding of your divine destiny, you begin to pay attention to what you can see — and what you can’t. It’s not this world where we will fully understand how all the pieces fit together; it’s in the world to come. In the meantime, hope assures us that we do have purpose and significance this side of heaven.

  Let Go Before You Leap

  I remember watching kids swing across the monkey bars on the playground at school. It was an art for some. They moved so swiftly you would think they were walking on air. In order to move from one bar to the next, you have to let go of the bar you are holding on to in order to grab the next one. If you don’t, you will lose momentum and stop moving forward.

  When the dark moments come — and they will come — the temptation is to not let go of the pain, hurt, and suffering. Instead, you may choose to dwell on it. But you can’t let yourself stay there.

  I didn’t want to let Sophia go. She was the love of my life. Why did she have to die so soon? I was stuck on that question long enough for it to become toxic. My anger was so poisonous that it was far worse than the tragedy that sparked it. I lost my way and lost touch with my divine destiny. I was so stuck in the middle of my tragedy that I couldn’t see the good things happening right in front of me. I had made it on American Idol. This was the dream Sophia and I shared, and it was coming true. Yet it took some time to see that because of my poisoned heart.

  What are you holding on to that is becoming toxic in your life? It’s okay to feel pain inside. It is what makes you human. It’s not okay to allow that pain and suffering to govern you and cloud your vision of the good things that are before you. You have to let go, just like I did.

  Maybe you are in the midst of addiction; let go and leap.

  Maybe you are in the midst of failure; let go and leap.

  Maybe you are in the midst of stress; let go and leap.

  Maybe you are hanging on to toxic emotions from situations you can’t control; let go and leap.

  Whatever it is that has a grip on you, let go and leap.

  You are special, and you were designed to accomplish something you’ve been uniquely gifted to do. Your divine destiny is before you. All you have to do is leap. So leap into the hope that is before you. It’s the only way you’ll find your life’s purpose, even in the midst of your darkest moments.

  Conclusion

  Life is not religious. It is not political. It is not black. It is not white. It is neither rich nor poor, powerful nor weak, intelligent nor ignorant. Life is only this: love.

  Part of recognizing that we must live in harmony with our divine destiny is acknowledging that it is not discovered in meditation and contemplation alone. Rather, our discovery comes in the doing. It comes when we roll up our sleeves and hang ourselves out there, even when the possibility of failure is great.

  I had to face this reality during two significant events in my life that happened almost simultaneously. One was the death of my first wife, Sophia. The second was my time on American Idol. The act of letting go of Sophia was just that: action. I thought about letting go a hundred times, but I kept hanging on. It wasn’t until I decided to act on it that something changed.

  The second time I had to take a step that was overwhelmingly scary to me was choosing to audition for American Idol. If I’d never showed up in Kansas City, I would have guaranteed my failure and the end of any hope at a music career. (It’s possible another path would have opened, but it was very unlikely.)

  Each week I had to step on that stage and sing my heart out. It was terrifying to realize that millions of people were critiquing my every move. Then I had to stand there and let industry professionals tell me what was great and not so great about my performance. Yet every week I forced myself to find the courage to do it all over again.

  Sophia’s Heart came about because I took a step of faith in a direction that was unpredictable. I had never started or run a nonprofit before. Sure, I had been on the staff of a nonprofit, but leading one was entirely different. We have faced and will continue to face insurmountable odds. But in the midst of every reason to give up and retreat, we are making the difference in the lives of people who have no other choice or option.

  Discover Hidden Treasure

  Some people think the greatest treasure is found in balance sheets and bank accounts. I disagree. I know a lot of unhappy rich people who are alone, confused, and out of touch with their divine purpose and who they are designed to be. The greatest treasure is found in the most unlikely places: within the hearts of people.

  I know that sounds like a cliché and is overused. The problem with clichés is that we’ve heard them so much that we stop thinking about them critically. Life is about relationships with people, not things you can own or possess. The happiest people in the world are those who have deep connections with other people. And sometimes that’s all they have.

  People sometimes look at others as a burden or a line item on a budget sheet. Not true. People are a gift. I don’t mean just the pretty people, the perfect people, the holy people, or the special people. I mean all people, especially those who aren’t pretty, perfect, holy, or special.

  Step into Your Destiny

  I didn’t want you to read this book so you could find a way to pass the time. I want to inspire you not to allow the unpredictable, unfortunate, and unexplainable to keep you from living into all you were created to be and accomplish. But that means when we
find healing within ourselves, we then have a responsibility to help heal others.

  The richest people in the world are the ordinary people who generously give their time, unique giftedness, and resources to invest in others. Therein lies the accumulated potential of each soul, sometimes realized, sometimes wasted. In each one of us is planted all the potential to be everything God created us to be.

  No matter where you live, what level of education you have, or how perfect your life appears, there is part of you that needs to be healed, mended, and put back together. No house, car, or job can ever complete you. You will always be left unsatisfied. That’s because you were created to find your completeness in sharing and helping others.

  Prepare for the Unexpected

  Some people don’t take action because they don’t feel prepared, qualified, or ready to act. Here is a hint: No one does. Do you think I was fully prepared at every turn to take the next step? Do you think I didn’t have to overcome the fear that comes with doing something new? Do you think I’ve never made a mistake? (If you do, I recommend you flip to the front of the book and start reading there.) I’ve made a bunch of mistakes. But it was in my doing that I discovered the various connection points that led me to where I am today.

  You might never start a nonprofit, experience the loss of a loved one, or audition for a TV show. So what? You have been placed, platformed, and prepared to start making a difference right where you are. Just say yes to the opportunities as they come your way.

  You must hold loosely to the things in this world so you have the ability to grab hold of what will last forever. When we are attached to one way of doing things or only one way of understanding the world around us, our minds limit our opportunities. When we open our minds to new things, we begin to see unlimited people and opportunities within arm’s reach.

  Identify Something to Live For

  Sophia’s Heart gave me something to live for. If I didn’t have purpose, I may not have survived the deep depression I experienced after my loss. If I didn’t have someone to serve, I may never have found the healing that made me whole again. If I didn’t have a dream of the future, I might not have had the energy to continue to push through the obstacles and reach through the unknown to fully live into my purpose, mission, and destiny.

  You can’t wait around for “the right moment” because the right moment will never come. People who wait around for some big epiphany rarely experience it. They risk wasting their lives and miss the blessing that comes from showing love to other people, especially those in need. On the other hand, people who practice love as a verb and put their lives into action discover that the epiphany always comes in the doing.

  Every successful person I’ve met understands the need to have something to live for that is bigger than just the day-to-day details. Those who have this perspective see it as a thread that pulls them through the times when the feelings aren’t there, the breaks don’t come, and the stakes seem too high.

  If we don’t have something to live for and someone to serve, we risk being caught up in building our own kingdoms instead of helping others live into their divine destinies. If we make life all about us, our world becomes very small. If we make life about people and relationships, we discover a wealth that is limitless and has the power to create a positive change.

  Find a way to put your convictions into action. Again, change doesn’t happen by sitting around and dreaming. There is a time for that. But right now, the best way to find hope is to stare it square in the face and move toward it by helping others discover it for the very first time.

  Find a Community

  Find a community of people who can help you thrive. When I say community, I don’t mean social media. That is a great tool to help foster an existing community of people, but it is not a substitute for the real thing. Look for a group of people who care about the things you do, and find a way to get involved.

  When I first discovered my interest in business and being an entrepreneur, I started hanging around people who were successful in business. I wanted to pick their brains. I asked them questions, and they challenged me to take steps toward my dream. It was a very healthy process.

  Don’t join just any community. Look for people who share a similar perspective of the world, are passionate about the same things you are, and desire to put their convictions into action. Also, look for people who see things in you that you didn’t see in yourself. I’ve had a number of people speak things into my life and recognize things in me that I didn’t know were there before.

  I think it’s easy to become really busy or substitute any number of things for investing in the lives of people. Technology is great. I use it every day, but Leyicet and I aren’t going to raise our son through a computer screen. It’s through laughing together, crying together, and doing life together that we will be able to teach him the things we have learned along the way.

  In the same way, look for people who you know are ethical and moral and genuinely care for others. If you’re wondering if the people you spend your time with are the right community of friends and mentors, ask yourself this question: Does being around them bring out the best or the worst in me? If your answer is anything but that they cause the best to come out in you, you need to find a new community of people.

  Give Yourself Away

  There is a principle I learned early in my twenties when I discovered generosity. I can’t give away so much that I will go broke. In fact, the opposite is true. The less I give away, the less chance that what I have will be multiplied.

  I have found time and time again that when I give more than I think I should, the miracle happens. It comes back to me many times over. Your purpose — your divine calling — includes living a generous life.

  That means giving away your time. Nonprofits in your community are desperately looking for volunteers. Pick something you’re passionate about and get involved. Give your time, look the people in need right in the face, and you’ll discover what really matters in this life and the life to come.

  That means giving away your skills. You have been uniquely gifted and empowered with some skill. It could be as simple as a warm smile or the ability to make a great meal, or it could be as complex as starting a nonprofit or fighting for some change in public policy. Don’t spend all your talent on the things you think will secure power, position, and prestige. Remember, fame comes and goes. Your legacy will live forever in the hearts and minds of the people you’ve helped and served.

  That means giving away your money. I have spent most of my life without what I would consider an abundance of money. It was when I was in over my head with debt that I decided to start being generous. It didn’t make sense, it didn’t add up, but something deep within moved me to start being generous in whatever way I could. For me, that’s when my life really started to come together and things started to change.

  Don’t believe the lie that you don’t have money to give. Generosity is a choice. You have money to give to support the people in your community trying to help others in need. You’ll discover the multiplying effect generosity will have on your spirit, family, and wallet.

  Dare to Dream

  One of the activities every person who comes through Sophia’s Heart participates in is an exercise where we help them identify a more desirable future that is specific to them. When we change our minds, we change the altitude at which we can live. When we change our direction, we change the momentum at which we can move. When we change our dreams, we ultimately change the destination where we will arrive.

  You were meant for more. Even better, you are the key to someone else unlocking their divine destiny. But if you can’t see that, you’ll miss the blessing. It all begins when you dare to dream about what is in front of you rather than hanging on to what is behind you.

  When you dream, a new energy emerges.

  Your stumble is transformed into a steady pace.

  Your doubt is transformed into an assurance of what has yet to
be seen.

  Your lack of abundance is transformed into an overabundance.

  You suddenly have the strength to stand.

  You suddenly have the freedom to dream.

  You suddenly have the clarity to move forward.

  Hope is not behind you.

  Hope is not beside you.

  Hope is in front of you, and it is asking you to dream, believe, and unleash your divine purpose so you can serve the world as you reach toward that which will last forever.

  This is your hope. And it is right in front of you.

  Scan to hear a personal message from Danny on hope.

  About the Author

  BMG recording artist Danny Gokey became a favorite of millions of fans as a top-three finalist on season 8 of American Idol. In 2010, Gokey released his debut album, My Best Days, which garnered record first-week retail and digital album sales for a male debut artist in his musical genre and peaked at number four on the weekly Billboard 200 album chart. He is the founder of Sophia’s Heart, a nonprofit organization established in 2008 in honor of his late wife. The organization’s goal is to give hope and housing to homeless families as well as provide scholarships to deserving students and operate a thriving inner-city music and arts program.

  Connect with Danny Gokey

  www.dannygokey.com

  www.facebook.com/DannyGokeyOfficial

  www.twitter.com/DannyGokey (@DannyGokey)

  http://www.youtube.com/DannyGokey

  About Sophia’s Heart

  In 2008, Sophia’s Heart was founded by Danny Gokey to help children and families who have been touched by poverty, sickness, broken homes, and broken dreams. The organization provides transitional housing for homeless families while seeking to rebuild confidence and the motivation to dream again. The program accomplishes these goals by providing coaching in the areas of life skills, job training, financial planning, spiritual inspiration, and health and wellness. Sophia’s Heart also serves to inspire creativity in children through a thriving music and performing arts education program that allows inner-city kids to express themselves and pursue their dreams in a safe, supportive environment. To find out more about Sophia’s Heart, go to Sophiasheart.org.