It’s easy to move through life without slowing down long enough to ask why we’re in such a hurry in the first place. We push hard to get into the right school. Land the right job. Make the right impression. But somewhere along the way, a lot of us start feeling like we’re running on empty.
And maybe it’s not just exhaustion. Maybe it’s something deeper—like you’re achieving a lot, but still don’t feel like it’s enough. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Drive Isn’t Bad—But It Can Go Off Course
God created us with a sense of drive. He gave us the innate desire to create, contribute, grow, and make a mark on the world. And that’s a good thing!
When our ambition is healthy, it helps us step into the purpose God designed us for. It leads us to use our gifts to serve others and make the world better.
But when our drive gets disconnected from our why, it can go sideways. We start chasing success without knowing what it’s for. We care more about being seen than about being whole. We start trying to cover up shame and insecurity with achievement instead of treating them at the source. We treat people like stepping stones instead of teammates. That’s when drive becomes something dangerous—and God warns us about that.
“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” Mark 8:36
In other words, you can get everything you thought you wanted and still miss what matters most.
What’s Fueling Your Ambition?
Are you on the fast track to burnout, chasing after empty pursuits? Take a second to really ask yourself:
- What are you striving for right now?
- What’s behind your hustle?
- What’s the “win” you’re chasing?
- And more importantly…why?
God invites us to pause and check the engine behind all our effort. Like Proverbs 16:2 says, “the Lord examines [our] motives.” We can look successful and put-together on the outside, but God sees when our motivation is rooted in fear, insecurity, or pride—and he knows it’ll catch up with us.
Selfish Drive vs. Selfless Purpose
One of the clearest indicators of a misplaced “why” is how we treat others along the way. When selfish ambition takes over, we start to see people as competition—or worse, as tools. We start to care more about how useful they can be to us and less about their inherent value as people.
God calls us to a radically different posture: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” Philippians 2:3–4.
Does this mean it’s bad to have goals or to try to better yourself? No. The pursuit of excellence isn’t a bad thing. What God is steering us toward is a pursuit of excellence that doesn’t come at the expense of others.
When You Shift Your “Why,” You Change Your Life
When you let your “why” shift from selfishness to selflessness, it opens the door to live with both confidence and compassion. Here’s what starts to happen:
- You stop striving to prove yourself and start serving with purpose
- You find freedom in running your own race instead of trying to outrun others
- You start seeing people not as threats but as teammates
Galatians 6:4 echoes this: “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” That’s the kind of life that leads to peace.
You Can Still Win Without Losing Yourself
You don’t have to stop being driven. Some of us are naturally competitive or goal-oriented. The key is to continuously check yourself and make sure you’re motivated by something deeper than ego or insecurity.
So ask yourself today:
- Why am I running so hard?
- Is this pursuit making me better—or just busier?
And if your ambition is costing you the people around you—or the peace within you—maybe it’s time to change the way you race.
Romans 12:10 reminds us to “love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” When your race is about more than just you, you’ll run lighter, freer, and more joyfully than ever before.
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Setting goals is a great way to grow in life! Here’s some advice on setting realistic goals that won’t steer you toward burnout.
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