“They” do not decide your success

It is becoming incredibly difficult in our culture to avoid noticing the “theys”. They are everywhere and constantly in front of us.

- They got a raise.

- They got a new book deal.

-They had 4,237 baptisms yesterday.

- They sold their house.

- They got engaged.

- They got their dream job.

- They were invited to a speak at ____ conference.

- The list is endless.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to keep going with your calling because “they” seem to be having so much more success. They get all the breaks. They get the opportunities. They land the deals, book the event, have the success. And when you compare that with where you are, it can really slow you down. I know from experience.

Here are few reflections:

1. For every great thing happening to “they”,  you rarely hear anything about the journey. If someone just got a book deal or a raise, it’s because they’re working hard and have been rewarded. You are comparing yourself to someone who is not at the same point of the journey.

2. Tune them out to focus. It’s difficult to focus on your calling if all you do is watch what everyone else is doing. Sign off of Twitter and Facebook for a few days and get back to work on your calling.

3. If you get jealous or frustrated when others succeed, you have pride and jealousy that needs to be dealt with.  I had to come to grips with this in my own heart. The more jealous you become, the harder it will be to pursue your calling. If the jealousy is left unchecked, it will infect your motives and destroy your potential. The best thing you can do is to start helping others promote their projects, congratulate them on their success, and pray for them.

4. It’s very difficult to trust God when you focus on them. God has mapped out your path specifically for you. You have to trust him, and the best way to do that is to focus your attention on him. Figure out what he is saying and trust his calling.