The Problem with Trying to Measure Up

 

Have you ever noticed how we are programmed from a young age to measure success?

From grades to Student of the Month to MVP, during our school years we are taught to celebrate the best and brightest. When we enter college, scholarships are awarded to the smartest students and top internships are granted to the highest achievers. The work force carries on the quest for greatness through industry-specific awards and bonuses for top performers. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think every kid should receive a trophy or every worker should be named employee of the month.

However, I think this success-oriented mindset has set us up for failure in the realm of relationships and ministry.

 

The Problem with Trying to Measure UP

 

I began my career in the field of public relations, a very goal-oriented industry. As the public relation specialist at a community college in Virginia, I was often called upon to develop communication plans for different initiatives, from announcing a new degree to educating the public about state budget cuts. Measurable outcomes were assigned to each task of the plan to determine if we had been successful in implementing the various communication pieces and sharing the information with our constituents.

I was routinely called upon to measure my work, and, to be honest, I worked well within these parameters. I am a detailed worker with perfectionistic tendencies, so I stayed on task and got the job done. This resulted in a few communication awards and accolades from my boss.

I felt quite successful in my career and knew that people appreciated my work.

Fast forward sixteen years and I’m now in a career that is anything but measurable, and . . . it’s hard.

Two and a half years ago I felt impressed by God to pursue a career in youth ministry, but it took another year and a half before the door swung open and I was offered a position as the assistant chaplain at a Christian high school near my home. To say I was ecstatic was an understatement. I had always been active in my church, serving in some capacity of music and/or children’s/youth ministry, but now it was my job!

The ironic thing is that although I have my dream job and I’m doing what I’m so passionate about, I’ve really struggled this first year wondering if I’m “doing enough” or if I’m “good enough” for the job.

I am realizing that this negative thinking has been formed in part by the pursuit of success.

But how do you measure hugs and prayer and Bible studies and late-night texting conversations?

[Tweet “The truth is that you can’t measure spiritual things with a worldly yardstick. “]

The relationships and mentoring moments that God ordains cannot be measured by earthly standards because we have no idea what seeds have been planted that will someday bear eternal fruit.

I am currently in the midst of studying the book of Jeremiah, and a thought hit me the other day as I was contemplating his situation. God called Jeremiah to proclaim a message of judgment on the nation of Judah. Unlike Jonah who preached a message of judgment and consequently converted the whole city of Nineveh (which he struggled with, but that’s a whole other story), Jeremiah did not see any fruit from his efforts. If that weren’t bad enough, the people hated him and his message of doom. No one said, “Wow, thanks for helping us see the light,” or “Please teach us more of God’s word.” Nope, he endured persecution and plots against his life.

As I thought about this, I wrote down the following thought in my journal:

Being faithful does not equal success as the world sees it.

This thought replaces the striving I feel under the doing-enough/good-enough system that is rooted in the quest to measure success. When I am faithful to God’s call to love others and use my talents for His glory, then He takes care of the success.

[Tweet “The end results are in His hands, not mine. “]

It doesn’t seem like much, but each smile, hug, text message, or casual conversation is an act of faithfulness to God’s call on my life to love the teens He puts in my path. Those moments are just as valuable as each Bible study, prayer time, or counseling session. Because in all of these moments, both big and small, I’m being faithful to what God has called me to do, which is to love others with abandon as He loves me.

1 John 4:7, NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

How are you measuring your success?

 


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