The lesson? To be truly successful in life, I had to recognize that every trial is a growth opportunity—not a setback. This principle finally took root in both my head and heart, and as a result, my attitude and habits have changed. Strength is born in adversity. And overcoming failure is what eventually leads to success.
Bruce Lee once said, “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” He understood that obstacles were the very thing that shaped him. Likewise, James 1:2-5 tells us:
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Wait—what? Joy in trials?
That leads me to ask: What is true success?
As a Christ follower, I’ve learned that success can never be measured by money. People will say, “She’s loaded!”—okay, but does that mean she’s successful? Not necessarily. In fact, sometimes it means the opposite. If Mother Teresa had confessed to a $5 million Swiss bank account, we wouldn’t call her a saint—we’d call her a fraud.
The best definition of success I’ve ever heard is this:
Success is the ratio of talents used to talents received. It’s what you’re doing with what you’ve been given—plus who you’re becoming in the process.
Whether you're in business, ministry, labor, medicine, or academia—if you’re a growing Christian using your gifts faithfully, you are successful. Be glad.
In my own life, I’ve experienced both extremes—living on crumbs and living in luxury. Each comes with its own set of challenges. The real test is whether I can be content in either situation. And trust me, it is a test.
I chose to persevere through seasons of lack rather than cave to discouragement. Sure, there were tough moments, but I decided to “get over it.” Life happens. Things eventually improved—but only because I stayed positive and expected the tide to turn. And staying positive takes work. Every little thing matters. I’d start my day declaring it would be great, thanking the Lord for His blessings, and asking Him to lead me—and help me stay out of the way. I had to read scripture, seek out uplifting books, listen to encouraging music, and surround myself with positive people instead of those fluent in the language of “negative.” Because if you do nothing, you’ll default to negativity.
Now, on the flip side, don’t let success swell your head when you’re cruising in your BMW 750 and pulling into the driveway of your 5,000-square-foot home on the water. Yes, that was nice—but challenges didn’t disappear. They just changed. Instead of worrying about paying the bills, I worried about how to grow or protect my net worth.
In the end, the key is learning to be content in all circumstances and to remain joyful always.
The Apostle Paul talked about a thorn in his flesh—something that never went away. I believe it was a constant reminder for him to trust God no matter what. He learned to be the same person whether he had much or little, confident that God could handle any trial. I’m striving to do the same.
As a believer, my identity isn’t based on what I have—but on how God sees me. And I’m so thankful His grace is sufficient. Holding on to bitterness about the past or fear of the future is just another wasted day. Live today. That’s where fulfillment and success are found.
Adios for now.
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