Many people fail to reach their potential because they spend too much time worrying about what they lack. They look at others and wish they had more money, better skills, a different background, or more opportunities. But here’s an important truth: Success is not about what you lack—it’s about how you use what you have.
The Bible assures us that God wants you to succeed and that He has already provided everything you need to fulfill your purpose.
In 2 Peter 1:3 (Amplified Version), it states:
“For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and godliness, through the full personal knowledge of Him who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).”
This means that God has already placed within you everything necessary for success. He takes pleasure in your fruitfulness, and the best way to honor Him is to maximize what He has deposited in you.
You Can Only Give What You Have
One of life’s greatest mistakes is trying to produce results from something you don’t possess. God does not expect you to deliver what He has not placed inside you.
1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us:
“What do you have that you have not received?”
This scripture reinforces the idea that everything we have is a gift from God. The issue is not a lack of resources but a failure to recognize and use what has already been given.
Another powerful principle is found in Galatians 6:7:
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a person sows, they will also reap.”
This principle applies not only to people but also to God. If a person reaps what they sow, then God also expects a return on what He has sown in you. He has given you talents, abilities, and opportunities, and He expects you to use them wisely.
For instance, if God created you to be a businessperson, He does not expect you to operate as a pastor. If He made you a singer, He does not expect you to function as a government official. Your success lies in maximizing what you have, not in chasing what you don’t.
The Danger of Comparison
A major reason why people fail to recognize what they have is comparison. Many people measure their success by looking at others instead of focusing on their own unique journey. The Bible warns us against this in 2 Corinthians 10:12:
“When people measure themselves and compare themselves with others, they lack understanding.”
Comparison blinds you to your unique gifts. It makes you feel inadequate because you are looking at what someone else has instead of appreciating what God has placed in you.
Some people believe that success is based on location, family background, or talent. They think:
- “If only I were born in a rich family…”
- “If only I had a better education…”
- “If only I lived in another country…”
But success is not determined by your circumstances; it is determined by how well you use what you already have.
If success depended solely on location, then everyone in a wealthy country would be successful, and everyone in a poor country would be struggling. But that is not the case. There are successful people in every part of the world because success is about mindset and action, not just environment.
Your problem is not your location—it is failing to recognize and maximize the opportunities around you.
Lost Opportunities Are Not the End
Many people carry regrets about past mistakes or missed opportunities. They believe they have ruined their lives because of wrong choices. But here’s the good news:
Even if you have made mistakes, God can still turn your failures into a testimony.
Consider the story of King David. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating the death of her husband, Uriah, David was broken. But when the child from that affair died, David made a powerful decision—he chose to move forward.
Instead of being consumed by guilt, David changed his attitude and trusted God. The next child born to David and Bathsheba was Solomon, one of the greatest kings in Israel’s history. Even more astonishing, Bathsheba became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ!
This proves that God can redeem any situation. If you have lost money, wasted opportunities, or pursued the wrong career path, God can still bring something great out of your life—but only if you allow Him.
The Key to Moving Forward
- Stop focusing on what you don’t have – Shift your attention to what God has already placed in your life.
- Use what is in your hands – Moses had only a staff, but with it, God performed miracles (Exodus 4:2).
- Trust God to turn your mistakes into miracles – Even if you’ve made wrong choices, God can still bring something good out of them.
You Need God to Help You
Without God, the devil will always try to make you focus on what you lack. Jesus tells the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, where a servant was given one talent but buried it because he thought it wasn’t enough. God was not pleased with him. This shows that whatever you have is valuable, even if the world does not yet recognize it.
The best way to ensure you live a purposeful and fruitful life is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you surrender your life to Him, He will guide you into all truth, including the truth about your gifts and opportunities.
If you haven’t given your life to Jesus, take this moment to pray:
Prayer:
“Jesus, I need You in my life. I surrender myself to You. Lead me, and let me use what You have given me for Your glory.”
As you pray this with faith, your life will begin to take a new turn for the better.