Every Disadvantage Has an Advantage
Do you ever feel like life gives others all the breaks, while you’re stuck in a cycle of setbacks? Maybe you’ve tried the same things as someone else, but where they succeed, you seem to fail. It’s frustrating, isn’t it?
But what if I told you that within every disadvantage lies a hidden advantage? Let me help you change your perspective—and your life—by embracing this truth.
Today, I’m going to show you how to turn your frown into a crown, your pain into profit, and your trauma into triumph.
Shifting the Lens
I was having a deep conversation with a friend recently. They began to list the ways life seemed easier for me and my brothers than for them.
This isn’t what they said, but I hear these sorts of things all the time. People say things like:
“You’ve been recording videos for years. You’ve run a business that makes thousands of dollars a month. You’ve written books. You’re younger, so you have more time and fewer worries.”
What my friend did say to me though, could be simplified to this:
“You’ve had it easier than me, Israel.”
I understood their frustration because I’ve been there too. I’ve looked at others and thought, “Why is life easier for them? Why can’t I catch a break?”
But I’ve learned something that has changed my outlook. Every disadvantage has an advantage. Let me say it again:
“EVERY disadvantage has an advantage.”
I’m not saying the pain or trauma you’ve experienced is good. What I am saying is that every difficulty carries the potential for greatness. If you’re willing to shift your focus, you’ll begin to see opportunities hidden in the challenges.
Lessons from the Cross: Turning Pain Into Power
The greatest example of this truth is found in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was the most unjust, horrific act in history. Yet from that unimaginable disadvantage, came the greatest advantage: the salvation of humanity.
The cross teaches us that even the darkest moments can birth the brightest outcomes. You can focus on the injustice of what happened to Jesus, or the eternal hope it brings. Both are true, but only one perspective will lead to life.
Let me share a personal story. When I was about 10 years old, something happened that I didn’t fully understand at the time. My classmates started teasing me, saying I smelled bad. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to fix it—the joke stuck.
That moment became my “brand” in their eyes. It followed me to my next school, even when I thought I’d left it behind.
At the time, it felt devastating. But years later, I realized, that painful experience taught me a powerful lesson about branding:
Branding is what people associate with you. Make it so impactful they can’t forget it. Share on XWhat was once a source of shame became a tool I now use to help others build lasting impressions. The lesson? Your pain doesn’t have to define you negatively. It can become the very thing that propels you forward.
The Advantage in Disadvantage
Blindness is a severe disadvantage. Yet, blind individuals often develop heightened senses of hearing, touch, and smell. They compensate for what they lack with remarkable abilities in other areas.
What I’m talking about can be highlighted in a character like Daredevil. When most would focus on being blind, Daredevil would use his blindness to his advantage.
In the Gospels, there’s a story of a man born blind. When people questioned whether his blindness was the result of sin, Jesus replied:
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” – John 9:3
This man’s disadvantage became the stage for a miracle, one that glorified God and inspired countless others. This man was living with blindness from birth, but that miraculous moment in his life was a greater advantage than his life with blindness previously.
The Key to Unlocking Success
In one of my recent videos, I talked about how Proverbs 25:2 reveals a profound truth.
When you stop letting past pain paralyze you, and start seeing the prosperity within it, everything changes.
Take my parents’ divorce, for example. Their marriage ended six months after I was born. I could have seen that as a reflection of my worth or believed it was because they didn’t love me.
But instead, I chose to view it as a motivation—a powerful reminder to build a strong, successful marriage of my own.
Everything comes down to perspective. Will you focus on the pain or the potential? The choice is yours.
The Power of Perspective
One of the most incredible modern examples of embracing disadvantages is Nick Vujicic. Born without arms or legs, Nick could have lived a life of despair.
Instead, he wrote “Life Without Limits” and became a motivational speaker, inspiring millions around the world.
His life is a testament to the power of perspective. He didn’t deny the reality of his limitations, but he also didn’t let them define him.
He chose to focus on what he could do instead of what he couldn’t.
When life feels unfair, it’s tempting to dwell on what you’ve lost or what you lack. But this mindset only paralyzes you. If you want to prosper, you need to change the way you frame your circumstances.
As I always like to say, if you change the frame, you change the game.
Let’s say you’re struggling to get noticed in your work or creative pursuits. It’s easy to think,
“Why aren’t more people paying attention?”
But instead, try shifting your perspective:
“This is my chance to create high-quality work that will amaze people when they finally discover it. I’m building a foundation now that will support my future success.”
This is the same thing I did when creating content around business based on the Bible. I created video, after video, after video.
Many would be in despair that more people went on watching it, but I thought about how when people finally find this, they’re going to have a binge-able experience.
How to Win
If you’re feeling stuck, here’s what I want you to do:
- Acknowledge the Disadvantage: Don’t ignore the challenges you’ve faced. Acknowledge them for what they are.
- Look for the Advantage: Ask yourself, “What lessons can I learn? What opportunities does this create?”
- Use the Advantage to Propel You Forward: Focus on what you can control and take actionable steps toward your goals.
Disadvantages disable you, but advantages accelerate you.
Your Choice
Yes, some people have advantages you don’t. But guess what? You have advantages they don’t. Instead of focusing on what you lack, use what you have to build the life you want.
The choice is yours. Will you let your disadvantages hold you back, or will you use them to catapult you forward?
For more encouragement and life-changing insights, check out how to get your prayers answered by God. Learn how to find meaning in the challenges you face and use them as stepping stones to success. Go Win, and God Bless Winners!
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