God's Tug - A Question of Success

A Question of Success

April 27, 2011

In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 18:14 NIV

TN: What is your current definition of success? How has your story affected your understanding of what it means to be successful?

RON: A successful person is one who is living a joyful life with the hand he or she was dealt.

DENVER: A successful person is one who can thank God for nothin’, and then He’ll give him everything! 

Same Kind of Different as Me. Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent.

I have been reading the book Same Kind of Different as Me. What an amazing book it is, since it has helped me take a diverse look at my faith and my definition of success. Ok, for much of the book, tears have been in my eyes, since the Denver Moore’s faith so incredibly sturdy, especially with his life’s experiences. This man came into the 21^st century without so much of the knowledge that many of us take for granted. In his early life, he was abused and shifted from place to place as he watched the people he loved dying one by one. Yet, everything Denver Moore experienced, God was able to use.

I have wondered all my life how the Lord can use me. I mean, I’ve never accomplished great things, don’t have extensive education – beyond a BA; can’t count very much as vast success in my life, and have emotional, mental, and physical disabilities preventing me from doing what I see others accomplishing. By my own definition, I’m not much of a success. But does God see me differently? He saw in Denver Moore someone He could use. And I’ve seen many times in the Bible how the Lord has used people who thought they were weak and were unsuccessful. This verse from I Samuel 18:14 and the two lines from the interview in back of Same Kind of Different as Me started me thinking that God’s view of success in me (and others) is quite a bit different than humans have of themselves. As I’ve heard many times before, “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” I’m beginning to understand this saying. What an amazing God we have!

I have not written God’s Tug for several days because of having problems with migraines and the medication I take for them. I’m happy that I’m able to write it tonight. A thought also occurred to me today that there is no special time to pray for others – I can do it anytime. It’s not that I haven’t known this before, the thought just came with more clarity today.

I ask the Lord’s blessings upon everyone who reads my blog, in addition to your families, and furkids (if you have any).

Michelle Rose