Insert from my book: Rising Like the Sun
Seething with pure envy, all the ladies got together and decided not to patronize my salon.
Instead, they went home and tied up their hair with scarves. You can best believe it; I saw it with
my own eyes. It was just as well, though, because God had a plan.
A few days passed. One morning I was standing in my salon looking out of the window,
watching the cars go by, when something came over me. For a few moments it was as if I was
outside, looking in at the world through a glass, detached from everything around me, seeing a
vision.
I asked, “Dear God, what am I doing here?” It was the strangest feeling, as if here meant I was
from somewhere out there. It took me thirty-one years to ask God this relevant question, and
because of it, I believe I experienced eternity. There were no constraints on my life whatsoever. I
felt a higher calling and the power to be whatever I was being called to. Growing up, I had
always felt different—this was the confirmation.
Why am I sharing this? Because this was one of the times God visited me. That unusual
experience showed me that my destiny wasn’t determined by a group of people. Their choice to
stay away from the salon was simply a sign that my season there was over. People come and go,
but God remains faithful.
Lessons in Significance
- The Woodpecker: On my morning walk in Arizona, I saw a woodpecker pecking
furiously on a metal box. His beak was designed for wood, not steel. Yet he had adapted
to an environment that was unnatural for him. How often do we, too, adapt to places or
roles that don’t fit our God-given design? - The Cat with the Bell: I watched a cat crouch, ready to pounce on birds. But her master
had placed a bell around her neck, announcing her presence. No matter how persistent
she was, she could never succeed. She was bound by what her master wanted her to be,
not what she was created to be.
These simple examples remind us: if you don’t know your own significance, you risk being
trapped in cycles that deny your true purpose.
A Sobering Example
Consider the woman coerced into prostitution by a so-called lover who is, in reality, a pimp. He
beats her into submission until she succumbs to a depraved lifestyle, his only goal being money.
Yet God has given us dominion—the power to reign in life and rise above every demonic force
through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). The way forward is clear: we must seek God, for He alone
reveals His will and directs our path.
Divine Purpose
The Psalmist declares: “And the son of man, that You visit him.” Throughout my life, the Lord
has visited me. I didn’t always understand it, but He showed me that I had a divine purpose
bigger than myself. As much as I loved styling hair, the calling of God on my life was far
greater. To know that purpose, I had to pursue my Creator—and I encourage you to do the same.
Myles Munroe once said:
“If you want to know the purpose of a thing, don’t ask the thing. Purpose is only found in the
mind of the creator of a thing. Only the maker of the thing knows the true purpose.”
Note from the Author
Knowing your Godly significance is of utmost importance. For those who have experienced
brokenness, this journey can be uphill. Trauma seeks to strip away identity, leaving a gaping hole
in the soul. I’ve experienced this, but I can testify—there is hope.
Beloved, you are significant. You are uniquely made by God, created for a specific purpose.
Before you entered your mother’s womb, He called you, embellished you with gifts and talents
and wrapped them in destiny. You were born for such a time as this.
My Prayer
May the Father reveal to you this day your divine significance as you seek Him with all your
heart. May He grant you the grace to rise and live out your purpose in the earth, in the mighty
name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Rising is not easy, but rise we must…
Your destiny awaits you.”
— Pastor Anita Joe