It may be hard to believe but I think some of us actually fear success. What do I mean by that? I mean you’ve been told for so long you can’t accomplish things you’ve allowed yourself to accept being mediocre and nothing more. You fear what success might actually feel like because you’ve never allowed yourself to experience it.
You became comfortable with mediocrity and just getting by. It’s what you know and where you are used to being. It doesn’t require a whole lot of effort or faith on your part. You never have to stretch yourself to just be mediocre. You don’t have to take chances and perhaps, dare I say, fail. So you stay in that place telling yourself you’re comfortable and content but you’re not. God did not make you to live a life of mediocrity. As long as you stay in mediocrity you are not becoming all God has called you to be.
When is the last time you pursued something that tested the limits of your abilities? If you haven’t in a while, or if you’ve never done it, why? Fear of success and the work required to be successful could be holding you back. Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) says, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
There have been numerous times throughout my life where I’ve had opportunities to test my limits. I will admit there were a number of times when I didn’t pursue the opportunity. I didn’t want to stretch myself and actually couldn’t imagine myself being successful. I was more comfortable staying where I was. So I missed the opportunity to grow my confidence and my faith in God. But in those situations where I did have faith and dared to test my limits, I did find success.
Now don’t get me wrong, that path to success did have some ups and downs and twists and turns. There are times where you are following God’s plan and your efforts don’t succeed. But that doesn’t mean your road to success is gone. Even on your path to success there will be difficulties and setbacks you face. These will cause you to doubt yourself and your abilities. You will even ask yourself, can I really be successful at this. But remember Proverbs 3:6 (NLT), “Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” So even in those difficult moments, God will show you how to work through them and continue on your path to success.
Success in what God has placed on your heart is within your grasp. God has placed it within you and He has the path for you to get there. Our job is to not fear the success. We have to follow the path and don’t let the difficult times or hard work necessary cause you to doubt the abilities God has placed within you. You are made for greatness and God is with you at all times showing you the way. As it says in 2 Samuel 22:36 (NLT), “You have given me your shield of victory ; your help has made me great.”
Truth in Love! ~ Chuck