The Cost of Success: The Balance of Pursuit and Surrender

Vision That Draws Us In

At Rock & Meadow, we love a big, audacious, God-glorifying vision. 

Have you ever had a dream so big that you knew it was impossible, and yet something in you was irresistibly drawn to it, like a moth to a flame? 

We often talk about pursuing our goals at all costs. But how often do we pause long enough to actually weigh that cost? Do we really think about what we’ll need to sacrifice? Do we stop to ask whether the outcome is worth it? Or consider that, sometimes, the cost might be too high to continue? Do we have clear boundaries protecting the priorities we refuse to sacrifice, no matter what? 

Today, let’s explore what it truly means to count the cost of success, so we can decide whether we’re truly willing to pay it.

Vision vs. Goals: Stretching Toward the Horizon 

When we set a new goal, it should stretch us. Locke & Latham’s goal-setting theory reminds us that goals should be challenging, but not overwhelming. They should push us to grow without leaving us demoralized. 

Vision, however, is a little different. It’s not a finish line, but a horizon. A magnetic visionary horizon pulls us forward, but to a destination that we never fully arrive at, because, like a skyline, it’s always shifting further away as we move towards it. 

We can’t know everything that a vision will require of us. We may see a few clear paths and predict some obstacles, but ultimately, the only way to find out what lies ahead is to begin. As we do, we can name the obvious challenges and prepare our hearts and habits for what’s to come.

Commitment Always Requires Sacrifice 

Every worthy pursuit requires sacrifice.

For instance, say you decide that to show up well for the people you love and the work God has called you to, you need to prioritize your physical health. That means choosing rest, nutrition, and movement. These are good things, but choosing them also means giving up something else.

Maybe it’s small, like ordering a healthy whole meal instead of your ultra-processed junk food favorites. Perhaps it’s more significant, like skipping a late night out with friends so you can protect your sleep.

When I made those kinds of health commitments, I knew I’d have to give up my comfort junk food. What I didn’t expect was the emotional cost of missing out on social connection because of my new priorities. That was a sacrifice I hadn’t accounted for.

When we have a vision for our lives, we must ask: What am I willing to sacrifice?

Some of those choices can be made in advance, when resolve is strong. Others will confront us in the moment, testing our resolve to the vision. When that happens, we have to decide: Will I stay committed to the calling or take a detour that pulls me off course?

Calculating the True Cost of Success 

Which leads us to our next consideration: what is the true cost of success? 

Jesus spoke directly to this in Luke 14:28-30: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Just as we wouldn’t begin a building project without a budget, we shouldn’t pursue a vision without counting the cost.

When I prepare for a home renovation in my real estate business, I always start with a detailed budget and timeline. Then, I will build in a 10–15% cushion for the unexpected. No matter how experienced we are, surprises happen, and the same is true with any God-sized vision.

If we don’t account for the true cost, we might break ground on something we never had the resources or resolve to finish. Counting the cost is not a lack of faith; it’s wisdom in action.

Reevaluating When the Cost Changes

So, you’ve been faithful. You’ve counted the cost, paid it willingly, and made incredible progress. But then… something shifts.

A life change you didn’t expect.
Resources that dried up.
The support you relied on disappeared.
Or the vision itself looks much different up close than it did from a distance.

Now what? 

You’ve invested time, energy, and money; so much that it’s even become part of your identity. The cost of success has changed. Are you still willing to pay it?

Do you just walk away? It depends.

This is where discernment and prayer play a crucial role. Is the cost of success infringing on the boundaries you set to protect your priorities? Are those boundaries still the priority, or has the vision now transcended to become the higher priority? 

Some callings are worth everything, like the call to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. But not every pursuit deserves that level of sacrifice. Sometimes God calls us to realign, to surrender what we’ve built so He can redirect our efforts toward something greater. 

The Sacred Balance: Pursuit and Surrender

Counting the cost doesn’t mean giving up on the dream; it means inviting God into the process of refinement. It’s courageously asking:

• Am I still aligned with God’s purpose, or just chasing progress?

• Is this calling still God’s assignment for me?

• What vision am I holding onto that He’s asking me to release?

When we bring our vision before God with open hands and humble hearts, we find freedom. We discover that success isn’t about achieving everything we imagined; it’s about staying faithful to the One who called us in the first place.

Before you keep striving, pause. Sit with your Creator. Count the cost. Realign with His Purpose. Then walk forward with faith, courage, and resolve, knowing you are building something that will last.

Faith Encouragement: 

• “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” – Luke 14:28-30

• In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. – Luke 14:33