Editor: Most parents wish for their sons or daughters to be successful in life. But who has the final say on “success” or “failure”? In fact, the Bible provides numerous guidelines on the concept of success and failure. As Christians, how should we adjust our perspectives and behaviors to navigate the right path toward success? These are the reflection questions discussed in “Presence Life Planning Curriculum” module B3 – Reevaluating Success and Failure: Examining Personal and Societal Standards. I hope that the following student’s sharing will inspire your reflection on this topic. I also hope that, through the help of the Holy Spirit, you can live a truly successful life in the Lord!
By secular and societal standards, I’m still a long way from success. I also have to face my parents’ standards, and by their standards, I’m a failure. I’m unattractive, introverted, and socially anxious. At 36, I’ve “accomplished nothing,” as in—I haven’t become the Foreign Ministry spokesperson or CCTV host they envisioned, I haven’t graduated from Peking University or Harvard, and I haven’t obtained a green card in the United States after 10 years. As a liberal arts graduate, I have no professional skills, a low salary, no property, no children, and am constantly pressured by my in-laws to have a baby. I don’t know where my parents get the confidence of always thinking their children should stand out from the crowd when they themselves are only very ordinary people.
I thank God that, because of His standards, the pressure is off. God does not judge me; He knows the path I’ve taken and my limitations. He has given me gifts and the time to slowly discover them, and He also uses me in the church—teaching crochet to the sisters, teaching Sunday school, singing backing vocals on the worship team, preparing food for the hospitality team, teaching drama at a summer art camp, and writing and directing my own plays, etc. God has given me sufficient grace in every aspect. My husband and I currently live in a brother’s house, which he is renting to us at a very low price, even waiving the deposit. God has also given us many brothers and sisters in the Lord, whose friendship is invaluable to me. We are united in our faith, walking together with one heart and sharing our lives. Therefore, I am a blessed person in the Lord and filled with hope. I don’t know if I’ll realize my aspirations for success, but God’s desires for me do not cause me anxiety. They are simply a direction to strive for, and I can pursue them with my best effort. Every little bit of progress is satisfying to me, and taking the future path one step at a time is enough. I don’t know if I’ll eventually have children of my own. If God grants me children, I hope I can learn to be a good steward of His care. But if not, I believe that’s also a blessing, and I’ll just have to wait and see how God leads.
Reflections and Prayers:
1. To be rich, you must first understand what is most valuable. How would you define success?
2. We often try our best but still only manage to live an ordinary life. Do you feel satisfied or regretful about your life? Or do you just try your best?
3. What Bible verses have inspired and comforted you, helping you adjust your expectations of success and set goals in life? (You may also refer to Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 11:8; Matthew 4:1-11, 6:25-34, or other Scriptures.)
Written by: Anonymous
(The author was a participant of the Presence Life Planning Curriculum. The article is part of her reflection during the study. Author retains copyright and grants Presence and its affiliate partners the right of publication.)
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