When Success Isn’t Enough
Success—it’s something many of us chase. We spend years climbing the ladder, striving to reach the pinnacle of our careers, believing that once we get there, we’ll find the happiness, contentment, or sense of worth we’re looking for. I thought I knew what success looked like and what it would bring. But I learned a hard lesson: success isn’t enough.
Reflecting on a Milestone: Success Achieved but What’s Next?
On my 40th birthday, I reflected on where I was in my career. At the time, I was a Platinum Consultant for SAP America. I had reached the top of my career path, short of going into management—which I didn’t want to do there. As I looked back on my journey, starting in the computer room and steadily working my way up, I felt a sense of accomplishment. But a question loomed in my mind: Now what?
Setting the Goal: The Dream of Becoming a CTO
I decided to set a bold new goal. A position called Chief Technology Officer (CTO) was emerging as a key role in corporations, someone who could align and leverage all the technologies within a company. I wanted to become a CTO, and I gave myself a deadline—my 55th birthday. I wrote this goal on the back of my business card that day.
Achieving the Dream
Three months later, I left consulting and took a position with Centex Homes to start my journey. From there, I moved to Microsoft, and then to Sally Beauty. On November 11, 2013, at age 51, I reached my goal—I was named Chief Technology Officer. I had achieved what I set out to do. But on May 4, 2015, just a year and a half later, it all came crashing down. I was fired from Sally Beauty after losing an internal political battle.
The job I had worked so hard for 12 years to attain was ripped away. It was then I realized: success would never be enough.
Rebuilding with God’s Guidance: A Season of Stillness and Prayer
During this time of transition, Wendy and I spent countless hours praying, studying God’s Word, and seeking His direction for our future. We would often sit in our backyard, looking out into the hills of Pennsylvania that surrounded our home. In that space of silence, surrounded by God’s beauty, my view of success began to change. Psalm 46:10 kept coming to mind: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Those moments of stillness allowed me to see that what I truly desired wasn’t professional success—it was contentment and fulfillment in the work God had for me.
Contentment Instead of Success
As I began looking for a new job, my priorities shifted. Wendy and I prayed for a position that would allow us to split our time between Texas and Pennsylvania, one that would use not only my technical skills but also the leadership abilities God had developed in me. Weeks went by with no interviews, but we kept praying.
Then, after my sister’s passing, everything changed. Within a week, I had multiple interviews. And then, a former colleague reached out, offering me a position with his new company. It came with a $60,000 pay cut, but it met every one of our prayers: I could work from home, develop the consulting staff, and work from anywhere. God had answered our prayers and reshaped my image of success.
Instead of striving for worldly accolades, I experienced something far greater—contentment. Three years later, I had surpassed my CTO salary, but it was no longer about the money. When I gave my career to God, He brought joy, contentment, and fulfillment. Success wasn’t enough, but God’s provision was.
The Pursuit of Success
The world constantly tells us that success is the ultimate goal. Achieve more, earn more, and climb higher—then you’ll find happiness. But what happens when you reach the pinnacle of success and still feel empty?
Scripture to Ground Us
Proverbs 16:3 reminds us, “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed” (NLT). True success is found not in worldly achievements but in aligning our lives with God’s will. When we focus on seeking His direction, we find lasting fulfillment.
Psalm 37:4 also encourages us: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires” (NLT). This verse does not promise that God will grant every whim or wish but assures us that when our delight is in Him, our desires will align with His purpose.
The Illusion of Success
Why Success Alone Will Never Be Enough
Success, as the world defines it, often leaves us chasing the next milestone, never fully satisfied. Why? Because success is a moving target. Achieving one goal only leads to the next, and the cycle never ends. The pursuit can leave us feeling exhausted, disconnected from loved ones, and even doubting our worth.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
The Trap of Comparison
The world’s definition of success often leads us to compare ourselves to others. Social media amplifies this, showcasing highlight reels of other people’s lives. But God’s Word reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:12: “Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!” (NLT). True success is not measured by comparison but by obedience to God’s calling.
The Transformation: From Success to Significance
Surrendering to God
When I gave my career to God, He transformed my perspective. Instead of striving for titles and accolades, I sought opportunities to serve Him through my work. This shift brought joy and contentment I had never experienced before. Philippians 4:11-13 says: “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (NLT).
Everyday Examples of True Fulfillment
- The Teacher: Finding joy in shaping young minds, even when the world undervalues the profession. I married one, so I know the fulfillment she had.
- The Parent: Sacrificing personal goals to invest in a child’s future.
- The Volunteer: Offering time and resources to help others without expecting anything in return.
Conclusion: The Hidden Cost of Chasing Success
Striving for success, while often seen as a noble pursuit, can come at a great cost if it becomes the central focus of our lives. The world tells us that success will bring us happiness, satisfaction, and purpose, but that promise often falls short. Success without contentment leaves us striving endlessly for more, robbing us of joy, peace, and meaningful relationships.
Satan Uses Success to Distract Us
Satan uses this relentless pursuit to deceive us, whispering lies that our worth is tied to our achievements and that we must keep climbing, no matter the cost. He uses success as a distraction, keeping us too busy, too stressed, and too disconnected to focus on what truly matters—our relationship with God and the people we love.
When we are consumed by the desire for success, the consequences can ripple through every area of our lives. Our relationships with our spouse, children, parents, and friends can suffer as our time and energy are poured into chasing accolades, promotions, or wealth. We may neglect the simple yet profound moments of connection with loved ones, sacrificing them on the altar of success. The pressure to succeed can strain marriages, alienate children, and isolate us from friends, leaving us lonely and exhausted.
This is the trap Satan sets: he tempts us to believe that success will fill the void in our hearts, knowing that it cannot. Instead, we are left feeling empty, frustrated, and longing for something more. As Jesus warned in Mark 8:36, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
Redefining Success: Finding True Contentment
But there is hope. God’s Word offers a different path, one that leads to lasting peace and joy. Contentment in Christ frees us from the constant need to prove ourselves and reminds us that our value is not in what we do but in who we are as God’s children. Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It is in stillness and surrender that we can find contentment.
When we trust God’s plan for our lives, our focus shifts. Success is no longer the ultimate goal; instead, we seek to live out our purpose in a way that honors Him. Relationships that were once strained can flourish as we prioritize the people in our lives over professional milestones. The pressure to achieve fades as we rest in the truth that God’s love is not earned but freely given.
Contentment doesn’t mean abandoning ambition or goals—it means redefining success. True success is found in walking with God, loving others, and finding joy in the work He has given us. As pastor and author Rick Warren said, “The greatest things in life aren’t things.”
Let us reject the lie that success will satisfy us and embrace the truth that God’s plan for our lives brings lasting fulfillment. By prioritizing contentment over achievement, we can find peace, restore relationships, and experience the abundant life God has promised.
Links to Other Parts of This Series
- Part 1: Breaking the Chains of Inadequacy
- Part 2: God’s Love Isn’t Earned
- Poem – Breaking the Chains of Inadequacy
- Poem – The Lies We Believe
- Poem – The Gift of Grace
- Poem – The Illusion of Worth
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