Stop Being Afraid of Success

Lately I have been thinking about how to better inspire my daughters to not be afraid to be all that God has created them to be. Many times I see them at the brink of greatness with regard to them living in the midst of their purpose and then I see it. I see the fear in their eyes. Then they hold back that gift that God has poured into them. You see I know that look quite well because I have seen it in my own eyes. I have to ask the question, why are we so afraid of success? We can’t be who God created us to be if we continue to live in fear. Fear keeps us from bearing the fruit that God intended us to bear.

John 15: 8 & 16 – My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father…. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name.

Marianne Williamson said it best in this poem:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

We don’t hold back because we fear failure. I truly believe we hold back because we fear success. Success usually draws attention to us. In thinking about my kids, they are a lot like me. We hate being the center of attention. We like to blend in to the background. God is telling us to stop blending in to the crowd. He wants us to stand up and stand out. We need to remember that when we follow God and use our gifts and talents in the way that He has purposed us to do so, we are not drawing attention to ourselves, we are drawing attention to Him. It’s God’s success, not ours.

Stop being afraid of His success.

God Bless You.