Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
—1 Corinthians 15:51-53

God is going to use what comes after "except." “I have nothing except this small talent. I have nothing except a little training. I have nothing except a few connections.” God is going to take what you think is insignificant and turn it into something extraordinary.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3‭-‬4 NLT

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." —1 Corinthians 15:54

You don’t have to perform better for God to approve of you. He’s already said, "You’re my beloved son, my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased." God doesn’t base your value on what you do, how much money you have, or worry about how well you performed. It’s based on the fact that you’re his child; He breathed life into you. He made you in his own unique and special image.

For too many years of my life I was chasing perfection. Spending time and energy trying to impress and outperform. To show that I was good enough. When in fact I was already good enough. All of us have already been approved. You learn to find beauty in all of the imperfections as you age. At some point the only thing that matters is being happy. You can lose everything around you and still find something to smile about if you want to.

Others may be more talented and successful than you, but always be confident in who God made you to be. You're not competing. You're living your life!

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1‭-‬3 NLT

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
—1 Corinthians 15:55

Death has the power to end life. Death has the power to separate. Death has the power to discourage and defeat us. But, we know the truth; Jesus lives! Because he lives, we know we will live with him. We believe that his victory over death is our victory. So like Jesus, we mock death and its power to destroy us. Jesus has destroyed death and brought immortality to life... in us through the Gospel.

Living to impress people will keep you from your destiny. That is time and energy that you need for your dreams, for your goals. Promotion is not going to come from that person you impress. Instead of impressing people, we should spend our time impressing God. It’s very freeing when you understand you have nothing to prove. You don’t have to prove to others that you’re good enough.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
Colossians 3:10 NLT

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Corinthians 15:57

Take the pressure off. Your destiny is not contingent on people liking you. Their approval is not keeping you from your purpose. You don’t have to prove to them that you’re good enough. You’re already good enough. Be confident in who God made you to be. You have to get your value from who you are and not what you do. Otherwise, you’ll spend your whole life competing with others, trying to prove your importance.

Life is a process of waiting. That’s why it is important to learn to wait the right way. We can get preoccupied with the “not yet happenings” of our lives. But don’t become so focused on things to come that you don’t enjoy the season you’re in right now.

“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ”
(Proverbs 3:5 NLT)