From Performance to Purpose: Finding Freedom in Who God Created You to Be
Are You Striving or Surrendering?
Have you ever felt like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough? You check off every task, meet every deadline, and pour yourself into your work, your family, your ministry—yet deep down, you still feel like you have to prove yourself.
That’s the weight of a performance-based mindset—where our worth is tied to how much we achieve. But God never called us to a life of striving; He called us to a life of purpose and freedom in Him.
Reflection Question: Can you think of a time when you were stuck in performance mode? How did it make you feel?
When we operate from performance, we hustle for validation, exhaust ourselves trying to meet expectations, and feel frustrated when our efforts go unnoticed. But when we operate from purpose, we move in faith, trust God’s timing, and serve from a place of peace—knowing that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
So, which mindset are you walking in today? Let’s break it down.
The Trap of a Performance-Based Mindset
A performance-based mindset is the belief that our value is determined by what we do, how well we do it, and how others perceive our efforts. It often looks like:
Striving for perfection—feeling like you can’t slow down or rest.
Seeking approval—measuring your worth by external validation.
Feeling entitled to results—believing that because you’ve worked hard, things should happen on your timeline.
Experiencing burnout and frustration—feeling exhausted and unfulfilled despite doing “all the right things.”
This mindset doesn’t just affect our daily lives—it affects our faith. When we operate from performance, we start treating our relationship with God like a transaction, expecting our effort to equal His blessings. We may even get frustrated with God when things don’t happen the way we planned.
But faith is not about earning—it’s about trusting.
The Peace of a Purpose-Based Mindset
A purpose-based mindset shifts our focus from striving to surrendering. Instead of constantly working to prove our worth, we rest in the truth that:
God already approves of us (Ephesians 1:4-5).
We are called, not because of what we do, but because of who He is (2 Timothy 1:9).
Our purpose is not about perfection, but obedience (Proverbs 3:5-6).
When we walk in purpose, we don’t chase deadlines—we trust God’s divine timing. We don’t hustle for recognition—we serve in faith, knowing that God sees us even when no one else does.
My Journey: When Performance Controlled My Calling
When I first started Grow Black Girl Grow, I was deep in performance mode.
I set deadlines and forced myself to meet them, even when I was exhausted. I felt like I had to show up perfectly for my community, or else I was failing them. And when things didn’t go as planned, I found myself feeling resentful—like people owed me something because I was working so hard.
But that wasn’t faith. That was striving.
The turning point came when I realized that God’s purpose doesn’t operate on my timeline. Even if I miss a deadline I set for myself, God’s plan still stands. His timing is perfect. His purpose prevails.
That’s when I fully embraced Romans 8:28—
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Now, I run this ministry in peace, not pressure. I don’t chase after success—I chase after God. And because of that, I no longer feel like I have to force things to happen.
I simply trust.
How to Shift from Performance to Purpose
If you’ve been caught in the cycle of performance, it’s time to step into the freedom that comes with purpose. Here’s how:
Surrender Your Timeline to God
Ask yourself: Are my deadlines God-ordained, or self-imposed?
Trust that delays are not denials—God’s timing is always better.
Seek God’s Vision, Not Just Your Goals
Before setting plans, pray and ask God for direction.
Be willing to shift as He leads, even if it’s different from what you expected.
Rest in the Promise that God’s Purpose Will Prevail
Even if things don’t go as planned, remember: God is still in control.
You don’t have to force open doors—God will open the right ones at the right time.
Let Go of the Need for Validation
Your worth is not based on people’s applause—it’s based on God’s calling.
Serve from a place of joy, not pressure, and trust that God sees you.
Are You Ready to Walk in Freedom? Join Us This March!
If you’ve been feeling weighed down by performance and want to step into true freedom in faith, I invite you to join our March Bible Study.
Together, we’ll dive deeper into:
Breaking free from the pressure to perform
Trusting God’s timing over our own
Walking in purpose, peace, and faith
Let this be the month you release striving and embrace surrender. Join us as we step into the freedom that comes from walking in God’s purpose!
