Her Success Is Not My Failure

God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, NIV

I RECENTLY ARRANGED a women’s retreat that featured different female speakers, worship leaders, and countless other women doing specialized tasks and using their gifts. I was the conductor, putting into place a little orchestra—everyone playing their part at just the right time. From my perspective, we were making the best music possible for this beautiful retreat.

But some women attended this event and frowned. They were disappointed they did not have the role another woman had. They saw her success as their failure. They bought into the lie—hook, line, and sinker.

God has given us a beautiful body of believers. Even more, every one of us has been given a spiritual gift. These gifts are from Him and for Him. Which means your gift is not about you. Your gift is to be used to bless the body, to encourage others, and to point to God and His glory.

So when you think another woman’s success is your failure, you have to stop and recognize this thought for what it is: a bold-faced lie from the pit of the darkest place. Don’t let this lie stay put. Don’t let it settle in and build a nest. Don’t let it make a home.

We are called to sisterhood. To linking arms, bearing one another’s burdens, working together, and making melodies that transcend our own song.

The call of Christ is to work with one another for His glory—not against one another for our own.

The enemy would love nothing more than to watch us tear others down. To claw at one another in our hearts, to gossip behind others’ backs, to take one another out at the knees.

When we feel that lie creeping in, let’s use that same fight and energy to take out the enemy’s lies. Let’s focus on the Prince of Peace, not our position, prestige, or pride.

The truth here is that her success is our success. Because when a sister succeeds, everybody wins. She has just become more of who she was created to be, and the world we live in just got better. And that’s amazing community. For everyone.

Let’s be women who are not threatened by success, but who rewire our minds to celebrate the success of others around us. After all, lifting up others is the crown of grace.

GRACE REFLECTION: Pray with me, “God, help me to celebrate the gifts of my sisters. May those gifts bring glory to You. When I’m feeling inadequate, remind me how You’ve gifted me and desire to use me, as well. Amen.”