Make God smile. Your passion matters more than logic; God smiles when you rely on Him rather than the world.
I read about a homeless boy, Ricky White, who earned a Doctorate in Music. He played the tuba. Let that sink in. A Doctorate in Tuba is already an unusual story. But that’s not what made me pause. What gripped me wasn’t the degree or the instrument, but the passion behind it —a passion that refused to die. That’s the story worth telling.
Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
“I’d like to die fighting a good cause, something worthy.”
That quote stayed with me. It came from Dr. Richard Antoine White, born in 1974, now known as “R.A.W. Tuba.” He grew up in the streets of Baltimore, often sleeping in abandoned buildings and relying on hope and grace to survive. When asked about his greatest ambition, his answer was powerful:
“I’d like to die fighting a good cause, something worthy. When it comes, it comes, but I ain’t going to lie down easy.”
And could I add my own words?
“I want to make God smile.”
What’s your Great Ambition?
Have you stopped to ask yourself lately? Do you see yourself the way God sees you?
Are you aiming too low—or not at all? Do you let others, or worse, society, define your purpose?
You were made for more. In the last few years, the people God has brought into my life have challenged me deeply. They’ve shown me that the greatness God places in us isn’t theory or motivational fluff. It’s real, and it’s waiting.
Romans 11:29, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
There is greatness in you. It’s not a compliment, it’s a calling. The greatness I see in others burns like a white-hot flame, lighting everything around it. And your life, like mine, has led to this moment —a crossroads, an inflection point. From here, we can launch into the great unknown or spin into the dark abyss of banality.
I know which one God built me for, and I believe He built you for it too.
Just a Morning Thought…
I understand that many of you don’t realize how exceptional you are to God. We often live in the past. Believe me, I know that temptation all too well. But today, just for today, what if we felt the wind on our faces and took a step into the unknown? God is already there, and He’s smiling.
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.
Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Let’s be real. When Anthony White was homeless, did you think he had a 10-step plan? Do you think he said, “The way out is to take up the biggest, clunkiest instrument in the orchestra and make a life out of it”? Do you think his friends cheered him on with, “Dude, go for it! Sounds like a bulletproof plan!”?
Probably not.
Let’s be honest: The tuba is not the band’s superstar. It’s not the path to fame, fortune, or flashy headlines. God breathed on it, and it became his instrument, passion, and calling.
So, What About You?
Your passion may seem even more unlikely than Anthony’s. But God doesn’t make mistakes. He planted a seed in you, too—one meant to grow, flourish, and light up the world. The world may try to convince you that it’s not practical, profitable, or logical.
Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Ignore all that. If God created galaxies, mountain ranges, and microscopic wonders with breathtaking precision—why would He skimp when it came to you? Thrust me, He won’t, and He didn’t.
What Makes God Smile?
It’s not your achievements, your résumé, or people’s approval. It’s your obedience while pursuing the life He created you to live. He’s not surprised by your greatness—it was His idea in the first place. His joy comes when you trust Him enough to live it. To shut out the world’s noise, and to say yes to the impossible.
Jeremiah 9:23-24, “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.”
So, I’ll ask again: What is your great ambition, and are you ready to make it a reality?
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank you for making me fearfully and wonderfully. Forgive me for doubting my worth or listening more to the world than you. Ignite in me a holy passion that cannot be extinguished. Give me courage to step into the unknown, to pursue the purpose You planted within me, and to make You smile with my obedience. May my life reflect Your design and bring glory to Your name. Amen.