“And if one day I make it, Lord, it was You, not me.”
In a world that celebrates the "self-made" individual, the entrepreneur who worked 100-hour weeks, the athlete who never missed a training session, the artist who clawed their way to the top, this sentiment feels almost revolutionary. It is a radical act of humility that shifts the spotlight from human effort to divine grace.
The Illusion of the "Self-Made"
We are often taught that success is a simple equation: Hard Work + Talent = Results. While discipline is undoubtedly a virtue, this equation often ignores the variables we cannot control. We don’t choose the era we are born into, the family that raises us, or the "chance" encounters that open doors. When we say, "It was You, not me," we aren't dismissing our hard work. Instead, we are acknowledging the Source of the strength that allowed us to work in the first place.
As many reflections on this quote suggest, it was God's strength when we were tired and His light when the path ahead was dark.
Grace in the Detours
Most journeys to "making it" are not linear. They are filled with what feel like setbacks: the "no" from a dream job, the delay in a project, or the seasons of quiet where nothing seems to be happening.
The beauty of this quote is that it finds God not just in the final victory, but in the struggle itself. It suggests that the "making it" part is actually the result of God guiding every step, even the steps that didn't make sense at the time. Grace is what carries us through the doubts and the detours, ensuring that what is meant for us will never pass us by.
Success as a Testimony
When success is viewed through the lens of "it was all me," it often leads to pride, which can be isolating and fragile. But when we credit God, success becomes a testimony. It becomes an invitation for others to see "fingerprints" all over our story.
By declaring "it was You," we turn our achievements into a platform to show how ashes were turned into beauty and failures into testimonies. It removes the pressure to be perfect because we recognize that we are simply vessels for a greater purpose.
Living the Life You Prayed For
There will come a day, perhaps you are already there, when you look around and realize you are standing in the middle of a life you once only prayed for. In that moment, the temptation to take all the credit is high.
However, true peace comes from the humble realization that while you did your best, God did the rest. He is the one who began the good work and the one who carries it to completion.
A Final Thought
Whether you are currently in the "grind" or standing on the mountaintop, let this be your mantra. It keeps you grounded when you win and hopeful when you're still waiting.
Success is not just about reaching a destination; it's about recognizing who walked beside you the whole way. If you make it, and by His grace, you will, let the world know it wasn't your doing. Let them see the fingerprints of the One who never failed you.
0 Comments