Blindsided By Another Woman's Success

Happy New Year, Chosen and Crowned sisters! It feels so good to be back! This is our year to shine! I am currently writing to you from my winter “office” which is the floor space directly in front of the fireplace. Its heat is soaking through my yoga pants, new fuzzy sweatshirt and slipper socks and making me unimaginably happy. I so wish you were here with me! I’d offer you a hot drink and slipper socks of your own! I am all set to press in to God’s heart and ask him to give me the words that will press in to your heart. An interesting thing happened to me last week…

I was blindsided with envy over another woman’s success.

She had gifts and talents similar to mine. She had a calling similar to mine. Similar in so many ways, yet her success set her vastly apart in the arena where I so desperately wanted to shine. I silently resented her, yet longed to be her. I dug my toes into the sands of self-pity and thought about jumping into the ocean of women who had given up on a dream. I allowed myself to stare at that ocean for a little while. I watched as the women were tossed and thrown about by the waves of life. Sometimes those waves knocked them into each other, causing them to shout bitter and hurtful words to one another. Another wave pulled a woman under. She resurfaced gasping for air. None of the other women seemed to notice. They were too focused on themselves. I slowly backed away and could hear Someone calling me by name. He called me to pull my toes out of the shifting sands. He drew my eyes away from the drowning waves. And he invited me to stand up on the Rock.

He turned my ear to hear his voice.

“You, O Daughter, whom I have chosen. I took you from the ends of the earth; from its farthest corners I called you. I created you for my glory. I formed you with my own hands. I said, ‘You are my servant.’ I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear; do not be dismayed, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:8-10a; 43:7).

He reminded me who I am and Whose I am.

I am his chosen and crowned. My life is destined to bring him glory. This truth has been declared!

Dear friend, we cannot allow the truth of our calling to be compromised by the lies of comparison. Another woman’s success does not change God’s eternal and perfect plan. Over the next several weeks, my posts will dig in to who God says we are as his precious Chosen and Crowned daughters. Knowing who we are in Christ is a game changer. It builds unshakeable God-confidence, which is vastly different from self-confidence which changes like shifting sands.

And that woman who you resent and admire all at the same time? You are called to love her and cheer her on! Yes, I’m preaching to myself.  

Here’s what I’m asking you to do today. Invite that amazing woman in your life to join the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Let’s champion each other towards greatness instead of competing with one another. We are all in this Kingdom work together and we must stay united! I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with his Chosen and Crowned in 2016!  

Anna Frye is a speaker, author, television host and founder of the Chosen and Crowned tribe. She invites moms and wives to celebrate imperfect progress fueled by the grace of a perfect God. She helps women bravely talk about the messy places of life, instead of hiding shamefully under them. She believes that lasting beauty comes when women courageously surrender their ashes to God and allow him to do something mind-blowingly amazing with them. If this resonates with you, then you belong with the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Connect at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog