We’ve heard it all. Sit here so when Mr. Bigshot comes in, you can meet him! Or, It’s not what you know, but who you know. Or, If you want to be somebody in this world, you got to fight for it. Maybe the vernacular is different, but we all have seen this equation:
Me + Networking + Powerful People = SECRET TO SUCCESS & MONEY
But that’s a lie straight from the pit! Here’s some truth: If you hustle to get to the top, you have to hustle for the rest of your life to stay there.
Two years ago, a friend of my told me to meet with Mr. Somebody Important. At first, I jumped at the opportunity, but fell down to reality with a thud when nothing organically happened. Sure, I could’ve pushed and prodded and poked my way and casually bumped into someone and gave them my card. But is that what God needs from us? Do you think God is in heaven hoping we carry an extra copy of our resume with us to pass out to a single/available hottie or prominent business owner or famous star?
Don’t believe the lies.
In a world that is shouting BE FASTER, BE HARDER, BE BETTER, God’s word tells us that is Him who does the exalting.
No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another. —Psalm 75:6-7
In the words of my friend Christine Caine, it’s better to be marked by God than marketed by men.
You want to write a book. You want to get the promotion. You want to find a mate. Don’t bust down walls or break ceilings. It’ll only leave a mess in the wake of your ambition. God is in control. Just let go and trust Him.
Anyone feel me?
In academia (and really anywhere), I feel the pressure to be better, not to simply learn. This is an amazing reminder that God is the one who ultimately raises people up and brings them down. The verse from Psalms is now underlined and highlighted in BRIGHT green in my Bible. I love all the nuggets of truth that make up the scripture.
I love this ~ so true. We can't do it in our own strength. When we do, it usually doesn't work out the way we want it to. I spent 1 1/2 years not so patiently waiting to be "moved up" where I am working now. It certainly didn't happen in my timing but it worked out perfectly and at the exact right time.
girl, YES. god promotes, god exalts. anything else is in our own strife, and god doesn't create strife. if god doesn't do it, i don't want it.
thanks for the reminder.
xo
I love this:
If God doesn't do it, I don't want it.
I am going to strive for that mentality, because as of right now, sometimes I want it anyway.
well, now, *that* is truth right there. 🙂
even as a christian, i have had jobs and been in relationships that i had to squirm my way into. square peg in a round hole.
the ones that have been the most 'god' for me are the ones that i didn't have to fight for…the ones that happened most organically, like bianca said. i am finding, too, that the things that come most naturally to me align with god's will for me…and so they just…seem to happen…
i've just reached that place in my life, cindy, that i'm just done with trying to achieve any notoriety or become a famous…anything. who really cares if it's not really god, you know?
just thoughts.
xo
This is so true, Bianca. Thanks for sharing.
BB, soooooooooo true! I havae seen God "bring down". I have also seen God "exalt". Thank you for the reminder.
I feel you. The load is so much lighter when you let go. And control is just a wicked illusion.
Ohhhhh, so good and I've thought about this a lot too. If God truly wants something to happen, does "pushing and prodding" really help. Am I trusting him? Thank you for your affirmation of this! I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing your God-given wisdom 🙂
Bianca…Bianca….Bianca….again…you are killing me with the "Dream Big/You Can Do It All" messages LOL…I am stuck in such a rut of fear…I'm totally paralyzed by it…and you keep poking at my fear…speaking Truth to my fear…and it makes me squirm LOL..thanks for reminding me that the Lord has the power to take me to the next level…even if I feel my abilities can't get me past the starting line.
XO
Love LOVE this post!! You covered it. This truth is true for all of life!
I feel you 🙂 Now if I could only believe that I really can let go….
You know, you're right! The world tells us to be in the right place at the right and to only associate with the "right" people who can take us the "right" places on the career ladder but God tells us to trust in Him, lean not on our own understanding and HE will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
It's like a story that one of our pastors shared with the congregation one day. He said that one day when he was about to graduate from theology school, he and his buddies who were also getting their degrees to become a pastor, were talking about life after graduation. All of his buddies "knew somebody" who was going to give them their first job as a pastor. So one by one the friends questioned each other, "Who do you know?" asked one "Well I know so-in-so who will give me the job in such-a-place"…and when the conversation thread turned to our current pastor, he said, "Well I know JESUS." 🙂 Long story short, our pastor said he was the FIRST of his theology buddies to be sent to his first position as a full-time pastor. 🙂
God is King of the Universe and He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). It's like a colleague once told me, "God will place you where He wants you."
God is in CONTROL! And it's a beautiful truth to know. 🙂 Hallelujah, Amen. 🙂
Bianca you are truley inspiring. I follow Jasmine because I have an interest in photography, but little did i know she would lead me to your amazing blog on life and God. I am so thankful for you words. THANK YOU!
Bianca…this is exactly what I needed to read today. Your words are so inspiring. And as my mom tells me and she’s been telling me more lately, so says your post … Let go and let God do the work. Thank you Bianca.
VERY true! xo
I feel you. I hate corporate mumbo jumbo and i'm so blessed to work with a company that the founder and CEO owners are chrisitian and their vison and value statement is base biblically. Although, it's not appearant to the rest of the company I noticed it. ____
Here's my motto…Do QUALITY WORK Stay FOCUS, DICPLINE and PASSIONATE. 🙂 My job is not mine and God has blown me away in putting me in the right place with the right teams.
Love it…have been thinking so much about this all week. I found this gem in my bible yesterday: "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." -Proverbs 19:2
Yes I do! 🙂
I feel you! Nothing fills me with a greater sense of peace and rest than the truth that God is sovereign and God is control.
This is great!
In Spanish, we actually read a book El Tragaluz where one of the themes involved the theme "devorar o se devorado" basically "dog eat dog" mentally. And the character in the book who was like that is so consumed with achieving money and power that he loses his integrity, respect, and relationships in the process. I think that can definitely be applied here as well. When we try to elevate ourselves, we put in so much extra work and often compromise that leads to great loss in the long run.
SUCH truth.
Well said… yes I understand all to well! So glad I got to spend some time with you last week.
thanks for this. after graduating from college, getting married (like, two weeks after you!), getting a job, losing that job and now being "stuck"…takes some trust. I know that I'm not as old or as experienced as many people out of work right now, and I feel that they need it more…but sheesh! even knowing people and being popular doesn't always necessitate organic success. it just sucks when the world equates "success" with moving ahead with getting a job with money with "being somebody". good thing Jesus gives us true identity. but really…thanks for this reminder.
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I love this post B. Great words of wisdom.
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just re-read this post… I so needed this today! So glad it exists for me to come back to and be reminded of the power and love of God.
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