The Over Acheivers

I recently had a conversation with a close friend. Most people know him as a pastor, but he answers to several other titles: entrepreneur, achiever, builder, driver…you get the picture. 

He said something that stopped me: 

“I don’t know how to drive and be joyful.” 

As one who carries a lot of his same titles, I knew exactly what he meant.  

Some of us are wired to build. We see what could be before everyone else sees it. We find the gap, solve the problem, identify the resources, build the thing, and then immediately start thinking about what’s next.  

But there’s a tension that comes with being wired this way. 

Achievers are rarely settled. 

There’s always another goal. Another problem. Another opportunity. Another level. We can celebrate what God did yesterday and, almost immediately, start thinking about what needs to happen tomorrow.  

Scripture tells us that the fruit of the Spirit includes joy and peace. 

(Well stink, because…) 

Being an achiever often means living with a deep sense of unsettledness, which can make joy and peace feel incompatible with the way we’re wired. 

So much so that it can often birth some serious internal conflict. 

How can I be content in Christ and still build more, making sense of the chaos? How do I relentlessly pursue what I believe God has called me to build without living perpetually dissatisfied with where I am? 

Amid this internal dialogue, we demonize the achievement mode because, well, joy and peace are clearly of Jesus.  

I offer you this perspective.  

I don’t think being a driver is the issue. The danger is when God moves from the windshield to the rearview mirror. We still see Him, but instead of following where He leads, we’re asking Him to bless where we’re going. 

(Pause and read that again) 

Some achievers will immediately say, and sincerely believe, that their drive is truly submitted to God, yet they still feel the tension and absence of peace. 

This is hard for me to write because I want to be sensitive. 

There’s nothing more challenging than when unhealthy drive is cloaked with godly intentions. An unhealthy achiever has trouble distinguishing holy discontent from an inability to be content. 

Could this be you? These behaviors and thought patterns can show up in varying degrees, so take a moment to consider them honestly. 

Chronic dissatisfaction. Nothing gets enjoyed for very long.   

Inability to rest without guilt. Rest feels irresponsible because there is always something productive you could be doing.  

Moving goalposts. The thing you once prayed for becomes ordinary the moment you receive it.  

Peace tied to progress. You feel good when things are growing, moving, or succeeding and unsettled when they aren’t. 

Control. Because achievers know how to make things happen, dependence on God can gradually become theoretical rather than functional.  

Impatience with people. People who move slower, think differently, or don’t share your urgency can begin to feel like obstacles. 

Burn others out. What feels like normal drive to you can feel like an unsustainable pace to everyone around you. 

Difficulty receiving. Achievers are often comfortable giving, leading, solving, and producing. Simply receiving love, grace, help, or care can feel strangely uncomfortable. 

I’m sure there’s more, but this list comes from my own growth journey. 

So how have I been learning to be both an achiever and a joy-filled, peaceful leader? 

I’ve had to acknowledge that I can build for God without believing everything depends on me. I see. I build. I run…but with my hands open so God can make changes. 

And when things don’t go like I planned: 

• Things take years longer to build. 

• Employees leave unexpectedly. 

• Funding dries up. 

• Organizational red tape slows me down.

I still say, “God, I trust you.”  

You want to achieve AND have the fruit of joy and peace? Eventually, you have to be okay living in the tension of achieving and trusting that He will orchestrate according to His will. 

Paul said, “I press on toward the goal” in Philippians 3:14 and also, one chapter later, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” in Philippians 4:11.