The thing, girls, is that it’s so easy to believe that having lots of followers on my Instagram means God’s promotion. Today, I’ll be sharing a vulnerable story of the time I mistook the number of my social media growth to God’s promotion. 😭

You can believe in that too, right?

It doesn’t seem so far off.

In fact, it can even seem like a harmless logical interpretation.

When God’s hands are upon it, whatever it is prospers. 

So when my Instagram took off in 2019-2020, I gained a few hundreds, then a thousand, then ten thousands in a short time. At some point, I reached 50K followers!

My response? I was elated!

“Finally!” I said, “I’ve been waiting and praying to live in my purpose and calling for so long! All the years of hard work are paying off!”

Promotion!

Wrong.

I honestly thought that was it, God’s answers and fulfilling His promises. I enjoyed interacting and engaging with my new audience and community. People were engaging in my content and getting blessed. Women getting inspired, empowered, and encouraged to keep going in their faith and seeking God for their purpose,

Months later, however, things took a turn for the worse for me. I began feeling burnt out, confused and I became more proud.😳

I thought God already humbled me. 

Pride, it turns out, creeps up on you making you think you are being humble when you are actually not.

I found myself constantly checking my heart that my ego doesn’t inflate. Because I didn’t want to be doing anything if God wasn’t with me or glorified. 

I was too busy serving women after women– counseling, mentoring and restoring them across the globe that I didn’t notice it was taking a toll on me, and I was operating beyond the grace God has given me for that season. I was striving so I can keep serving people with excellence.

What is God’s promotion?

We should have started here. What does God promoting us look like, then?

I believe it’s multifaceted.

1. It’s not dependent on your position.

I love how Pastor Vlad Savchuck from Hungrygen put it. 

“God’s promotion is not connected to your position, it’s connected to His presence.”

Promotion is defined as “the action of raising someone to a higher position or rank or the fact of being so raised”.

Consequently, we would organically put God’s promotion and promotion at work in the same category, even when there is a heaven’s distance between God’s Kingdom and the world’s standards and culture.

In God’s Kingdom, we know we are promoted when we have passed the test. When our character is strengthened after the process of refining  fire we have gone through. At this level, we experienced God’s presence more in our lives. 

This reminds me of the statement Moses asked of God before the Israelites entered the promised land.

““The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Promotion was never about how much accolades or recognition we can get, but about how much we are receiving from God by way of His presence. It’s always about intimacy with the Lord. It’s always about relationship.

Watch the sermon here – https://youtu.be/iFJcKMbD2Ic?si=34OkTmv-NgoNO7ww

2. It’s not about the number of your followers or subscribers

It’s an iteration of the first point, just specific to our online industry.

Having lots of followers or viral videos does not mean you are aligned with God’s plan, or promotion in His Kingdom.

Instead, reading your Bible, speaking to Him everyday but most importantly listening to Him and obeying Him is what makes you aligned with Him. 

Who you are in the secret place or behind the scenes of the camera matter more than who you show yourself in the public eye when people look to you.

When you are a believer, you belong to God’s family and His Kingdom. His Kingdom runs differently than the world’s culture.

It is most often described as an “upside down” Kingdom.

I just thought you needed a reminder you don’t belong to the world, you are part of His Kingdom. and your job is to bring His Kingdom here on earth. 

So stop comparing yourself to others. Your promotion is different from the world’s promotion.

Reflection moment…

Let me know in the comments!

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

If you are a Christian woman who is in the preparation season, you are in the middle of the process that God is taking you on… And He has called you in the area of the digital space, to influence, impact and be a voice for the Kingdom of God – through a brand, ministry, or business, I am inviting you to join our She Strategy Co Mentorship community,

This is a safe space for you to grow, be equipped, and empowered to receive the tools you need in the spiritual and natural, as God prepares to birth out your Kingdom assignment. Don’t do it alone!

Learn more here