Redefining Success: A Lesson in Obedience

My first year in business was humbling—so much so that I ended up losing $700. At the time, it felt like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t help but feel like a failure. There were days I questioned whether I was cut out for this, and I found myself battling discouragement and self-doubt. I had poured in time, effort, energy, and prayer, yet the results didn’t reflect the success I had imagined.

I had envisioned growth, profit, and progress. But instead, I was met with resistance, setbacks, and financial loss. I worked hard—but hard work didn’t immediately translate into results. And in that space between expectation and reality, frustration grew.

Looking back, I see now what I didn’t understand then: I had been building my idea of success on the wrong foundation. Without realizing it, I had adopted the world’s standards as my own. I measured success by numbers, profit margins, accolades, and recognition—things that look impressive on a résumé or social media but fade quickly in the light of eternity.

I let the voices of others—well-meaning mentors, former bosses, business books, and podcasts—define what I should be striving for. But the truth is, their definition wasn’t rooted in Kingdom values. The world celebrates speed, scale, and spotlight. But the Kingdom celebrates obedience, faithfulness, and fruit that often grows in hidden places.

It wasn’t until a kind friend asked me a simple question—“What do you want out of your business?”—that things began to shift. I paused, reflected, and gave him the answer that had always been in my heart: “I want to provide for 100 families.”

It sounded noble and faith-filled, but in the moment, it also felt far away. Maybe I’m not cut out for this, I thought. Maybe this dream is too big. But then God, in His kindness, brought something to my attention that completely reframed my perspective:

“You’ve already provided for three families.”

Three families. In a year that looked like failure on the surface, God had already used me to bless three households with provision, purpose, and stability. That wasn’t a failure. That was fruit. Eternal fruit. And I had almost missed it because I was too focused on the world’s scoreboard.

That moment reminded me that God’s standards are very different from the world’s. The world asks, “How much did you make?” God asks, “Were you faithful?” The world says, “Climb higher.” God says, “Go deeper.” The world rewards achievement. God honors obedience.

The truth is, I wasn’t failing—I was walking in obedience. And that obedience was bearing fruit, even if it didn’t look flashy or impressive from the outside. I was doing what God had asked me to do, and that, in His eyes, is success.

There’s a passage in Colossians 3:23-24 that says:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

This verse shifted my entire mindset. My work is for the Lord. My results are in His hands. And my reward comes from Him—not from metrics, applause, or promotions.

As I move into my second year of business, I’m walking forward with a different vision. I’m still pursuing growth, but now I define growth differently. I want to grow in obedience. I want to grow in trust. I want to grow in how I reflect Jesus to others—clients, employees, and partners alike.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t defined by what I achieve. It’s defined by whether I’m walking in step with the One who called me.

Spiritual Reflection

Sometimes the most important breakthroughs happen not in our bank accounts, but in our hearts. Here are a few reflection questions to help you discern between spiritual/biblical success and worldly success in your own journey:

Reflection Questions:

1. Whose voice is defining success for me right now—God's or the world’s?

   • What voices am I listening to in shaping my expectations and goals?

2. Am I being obedient to what God has asked me to do, even if the results aren’t immediate or visible?

   • What does obedience look like in this season?

3. How am I measuring success in my life and business?

   • Are my metrics eternal (faithfulness, impact, growth in character) or temporal (profit, popularity, performance)?

4. What fruit has God already produced in and through me that I may have overlooked?

   • Can I identify any “three families” moments in my own journey?

5. What does it mean for me to work as unto the Lord in this context?

   • How would I approach my work differently if I truly believed I was serving Jesus in every task?

6. Am I willing to trust God’s timing, even when it’s slower than mine?

   • Where do I need to surrender control and lean into His process?

Final Encouragement

Don't be discouraged by slow starts or what looks like a small impact. God's Kingdom often grows in quiet, unnoticed places. You may be sowing seeds now that will bear fruit in someone’s life for generations. Let go of the world’s timeline. Let go of the pressure to “make it big.”

Instead, ask yourself: Am I being faithful with what God has placed in my hands today?

If the answer is yes, then you’re not failing. You’re succeeding in the only way that truly matters.

Keep going. His purpose is worth your perseverance.

-The Storytellers