Over nine years ago I was in a frustrated and not-so-successful place—by human standards anyway. I had stood by my pastor husband’s side in ministry for many years doing whatever I could to contribute and serve there.

Yet I still longed for something more. Something unique to my wiring and giftedness. 

For years the doors for that kind of role seemed to stay closed for me—that was until I felt God opening the door through the avenue of a blog. My blog became the spacious place (Job 36:15-16) where God lit my heart and mind on fire for helping people find healing and perspective in the mess that marriage can sometimes be. 

If my definition of success had been to simply write and minister on my blog, I would have faced each day’s challenges with bravery—inspired and fueled by God. I would have remained encouraged and focused on the right things. But from the very get-go, that was not how I tended to define success—at least not consistently.

I was constantly tempted to define success by what the world values and with human standards. 

For bloggers, it’s so easy to fall for this trap. After all, a blogger must swim in the waters of social media daily—constantly being tempted to compare herself with other swimmers in those same crowded waters. 

Some days I felt like I was swimming next to Olympic-style swimmers. Then, add insult to injury, I noticed how many of these swimmers had jumped in the pool long after I had, yet were leaving me drowning in the wake of their meteoric successes. 

This comparison game left me feeling weak, inferior and fearful. #madeforbrave #sisterhood Share on X

So I made it my aim to learn all I could to improve and build my platform. I would sign up for countless webinars by Michael Hyatt or Jeff Goins and others. These people are all such great and generous mentors. I’m grateful for each and every one of them! 

But sometimes I let their practical tips entangle me into unrealistic hopes for the “success” of my blog and ministry. I have been waiting for almost ten years to no avail for that elusive “inflection point” that Hyatt and others say is just over the horizon. 

I eventually felt God convicting me to turn my “inflection point” into a reflection point.

Once I stopped the crazy comparisons and reflected on my calling, I realized that an inflection point is based on only one type of success—numerical. It’s the jump-up-and-down-my-numbers-are-off-the-charts kind of success. When the truth is God very often calls people like me to another kind of success. 

I came to realize that God was calling me to be faithful and not necessarily successful. #madeforbrave #faithful Share on X

Being faithful to God’s will and view of success might not ever include seeing some huge platform develop for me that’s bolstered by thousands of pageviews and subscribers. Changing my perspective on what success involves and looks like has taken courage that is grounded in my faith.

I must remain committed to bravely following God into the unknown and often unsuccessful places where my heart is refined rather than defined by outward signs of success. 

The insight that God has given me into what defines success has required me to keep certain continual steps in place. So I hope you’ll allow me to share some of them with you … 

5 Steps to Bravely Remain Committed to God’s Definition of Success

1. Avoid the “Comparison Trap”—especially when on social media.

2. When tempted to compare remember: “God calls me to be faithful, not necessarily successful.”

3. Focus on ministering to that one soul in need of your message—who just might be yourself!

4. Bravely persevere for the sake of Christ, rather than for the sake of self-promotion. 

5. Find an accountability partner who will not only remind you of your brave calling but will also pray that you remain brave and undaunted in pursuing God’s definition of success.

Avoid the Comparison Trap, especially when on social media. #MadeforBrave #Sisterhood every Monday. Sharing our stories of becoming who we were created to be. Share on X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth is a blogger, pastor’s wife, mom to three grown sons and one daughter-in-love (who’s expecting her first grandchild in October!). Beth also serves as a life-coach, and enjoys speaking at various workshops—sometimes along with her hubby.

You can find Beth hanging out most days at:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

She invites you to subscribe to her blog messymarriage.com, where you’ll gain access to her library of more than 35 free resources.

 

Catch Up On Previous Made for Brave Stories…Here

Sisters, we are called to walk the way of hope instead of the way of defeat.  We must claim more than our title of “Daughter of the King.” We must step up and also claim our position.

And we must claim these together. As a sisterhood; a sisterhood of brave women who stand strong in the promises of who God is and who we are.

• We all are Made for Brave.
• We are made to live for something authentic and brave.
• In living brave, we silence the past, transform the future, and take a front row seat to God’s wild and uncontainable love!

So, I’m inviting you to join this Made for Brave Sisterhood, each Monday as we share our stories and allow God to bring hope and healing. Let’s commit to being authentic and brave, one step at a time, side by side, holding each other up and nudging each other toward our true selves. And let’s claim the victory waiting on the other side of brave; for ourselves and our sisterhood.

Let’s celebrate our tears and our struggles as we peel away the layers of fear to reveal the beauty of brave.

Let’s risk everything that brave requires for everything that brave has to offer…

Becoming who we were created to be!

In living brave, we silence the past, transform the future, and take a front row seat to God’s wild and uncontainable love! #MadeforBrave #Hope Share on X

Do you have a Made for Brave story to share? Get the writing guidelines and submit your stories HERE!

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