Are You Defining Success Correctly? Most Likely Not

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” Genesis 39:2 NKJV

What is success?

Is it defined by how much money you have in your bank account? Or by the number of fast cars that you drive? Or by how far up the corporate ladder you are? Or is it defined by how many followers you have on social media?

I’ve realised that our definition of success is flawed which makes it so hard for us to count our blessings. We never feel blessed.

How exactly could Joseph be called “a successful man” in prison where he cannot amass wealth or become an influencer? I checked the Merriam-Webster dictionary and it puts it plainly:

“A favourable or desired outcome”.

That definition completely overhauls the lie the devil has told us through societal pressure. What was the desired outcome for Joseph in Potiphar’s house? Perhaps it was to ensure resources were properly managed. Or it could have been to ensure that the staff were orderly and conformed to the rules. He achieved the desired outcome of his role. Thus, he was successful.

You’ve also been successful several times in your life, but because you haven’t gotten that promotion at work or received a fat check yet, you feel like a failure.

In the place you find yourself, what is the desired outcome? What is the expectation that has been placed on your role? When you do meet that expectation, you’re successful. Instead of asking God to make you successful based on the cars and houses you don’t have, all you need are more opportunities to be successful.

There are several desired outcomes that lead to the final desired outcome. As you meet each desired outcome, stop and celebrate because you’ve just become successful.

This is also a reality check for me because I easily get depressed when I look at the things I don’t have and the future I haven’t gotten to. But in many things in life, I have met the desired outcomes. So, I am successful and only need to keep climbing the success ladder.

Encourage yourself and see that the Lord has been good to you. If Joseph can be successful as a slave, how about you that is free?

Say to yourself, “I am successful”.