The world has its share of “success stories” that aren’t really successes at all. We’ve seen and read about well-known people who worked hard to perform for money and approval from others, only to be disappointed. They relied on their own abilities and were the center of attention for a while, but were eventually forgotten. It’s heart-wrenching to hear about and difficult to watch, but it’s the result of succumbing to the burden of performing through self-effort.
People trapped in a mindset like this find themselves on a never-ending treadmill. They judge themselves harshly, subject themselves to unrealistic standards, and condemn themselves for being human and making mistakes. It’s tiring and makes life seem like hard labor, but depending on God’s grace for guidance and direction, not on other people’s opinions, greatly lightens the load. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Feeling like we must please others to be accepted and deemed worthy dooms us to failure no matter how hard we try. This is the prevailing mindset the world operates in, and it creates a hostile environment for believers. However, God wants only the best for us. Resting in Him and letting Him work in our lives melts away the intense pressure to fit into the world’s standards. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29, 30).
Resting in God doesn’t mean simply leaning back and doing nothing. It means trusting Him enough to let Him determine the direction He wants us to go. It’s the opposite of putting our faith and trust in our own efforts to “make it happen.” Letting go and letting God work on our behalf enables Him to cause everything to fall together more perfectly than we could arrange on our own.
Relying on God and not on ourselves isn’t just a suggestion, but a direct command. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass” (Psalm 37:7). It’s important to note that there’s a certain amount of waiting involved. Waiting to hear from God teaches us to trust Him more.
The external messages we get say that to succeed, we must rush back and forth, involve ourselves in a flurry of work, and compete with others. They say nothing of God’s overflowing grace for those who have the courage to trust Him. His favor is available to everyone regardless of their strength, agility, performance, or past track record. We experience it when we quietly wait for Him. “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10, NLT).
We need to redefine the word “success” according to God’s definition, not according to how popular culture defines it. Letting Him lead us, instead of the other way around, gives us much better results than we could ever achieve. Our priorities need to be in the right order. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23). The realization that God—not the world—is our source of prosperity and success turns what was once a performance to please others into a ministry to share His love and compassion.
