My Spanish teacher in high school posed a question for discussion one day. He said, "Who do you think will be the most successful person in your class?". My defenses perked up knowing that I wouldn't be named. My grades were fine in high school, but I didn't have the drive to be the first female president or the next Jane Goodall, and my teachers and classmates knew it. I remember another teacher remarking at one point that I would probably just get married and have babies.

The "who will be the most successful" question was posed to a small group of us in Spanish class. Feeling comfortable to pipe in because it was a small group, I cut off anyone before they could name the one in our grade with the "wow factor": good grades, good hair, nice clothes and a long list of clubs they were in (Science Club, Student Council, blah blah blah). I spoke up, "It depends on what your idea of success is".

That's all I remember about the discussion that day. I don't remember who ended up being named as victor of the future or how my teacher responded. I only remember being struck by my own words, wondering where they came from. Everybody knows that success is measured by the size of the impact you make in the world.......Or is that success?

Is impact even measurable?

We humans don't measure well. We measure success erroneously, forgetful of what it really is. The Oxford dictionary says that success is "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose". Not everybody's aim is, or should be the same. The world's voice in my head speaks loud and clear that the aim of life is acquiring power and riches and lots of things. Too often I make those things my aim, but I know better. My "Junior-in-high-school self" knew better. But I sometimes choose the world's view of success. Because I'm fooled into believing it will make me happy. And I falsely believe it wins the approval of people. Neither are true.

Success is the accomplishment of a purpose. What we have to remember as believers is that our purposes are not (naturally) God's purposes.  As followers of The Way, we're to look to God for purpose. Sometimes that purpose won't gain us a smaller waistline, a bigger car or Facebook likes, but living for His purposes is always worth it.

I can't help but think of Jonah. God gave him a purpose which he fought tooth and nail against. As one of the non-examples of the Bible, he reluctantly goes to Ninevah where he announces God's judgement upon the people. To his dismay, they listened. They repented. And God had mercy on the people (contrary to Jonah's aim). "Just kill me now, LORD! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen."

As much as I hate to admit it, I often find myself not only wondering what God is purposing, but disagreeing with it. I'm Jonah; the felt character in flannel graph stories who first ignores and then fights against what God purposes; the non-example to my children and a non-example to the lost who need to see a story of God acting through those who trust him.  Jonah's story (the part we know) is finished with him pouting on the side of the hill.

Didn't Jonah know that he had gained success? Couldn't he see that true purpose was accomplished as a people turned their eyes to God through the message that he delivered? Obedience IS success.  But beyond that, God does something beautiful with our submission.  We can count on it.

Our purpose is so very hard to see, because we're so determined to do what we want to do; what we THINK we're supposed to do. Strive. Be like her.  Do more. Be more.

Don't ignore the purposes God has for you.

Don't begrudge God's aim for your life because it holds little glamour, or because it's uncomfortable. He may be calling you to quit some of your activities and JUST focus on your children. He may ask you to get out of your comfort zone and speak out about something he's given you a passion for, or to do something that scares you senseless. Some days the aim he has for you may simply be to keep your cool in traffic. He may want you to visit your neighbor.

Success isn't always sensational.

Success can be small-scale.

Stop fleeing the purpose that God has set before you because it may not be what you had your sights set on. The things God has in store for our life are always better than the plans we have for ourselves.

Your success isn't found in dreaming and acquiring; climbing the world's ladder. Pray for rescue from the belly of the worldy whale; that place that holds us captive. Quit running in the wrong direction. No moping when you feel life isn't going the way you planned.

Jonah in a fine moment uttered the words that we all need to hear-

Those who worship false gods

{and chase after the winds}

turn their backs on all God's mercies.

But I will offer sacrifices

{giving up the things I once held dear}

(I will offer sacrifices) to you with songs of praise,

And I will fulfill all my vows.

For my salvation

{Life's ultimate success)

comes from the Lord alone.

Jonah 2:8,9 {emphasis mine}

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

In all this, you, will be most likely to succeed.