all the conferences and speaking engagements I’ d been juggling, the ridiculous hours I’ d been putting in, and the toll it was taking on my marriage and mental health. I knew he’ d understand because, in addition to pastoring a church, he was an author and speaker. My friend listened attentively, and then when I finished, he said,“ Jacob, right now you are living on a rocket ship— invitations, followers, opportunities— all of it is coming at you so fast. The thing is, you can’ t build a house on a rocket ship. If you try, the speed will crush you. You need to slow down. Root yourself in your local church. Serve without needing to be seen. Trust God to open and shut the right doors. Focus on your family. Remember, God didn’ t find David on a stage. God found him in the fields of Bethlehem, defending sheep from lions and bears, writing songs in secret.”
He was right. I needed to slow down. To focus on my wife and daughters. To reconnect with the Lord. To get off the hamster wheel, step away from the spotlight, and put my life, my family, and my ministry back where they belonged— in His hands.
So we moved to Johnson City. We rented a house sight unseen that turned out to be right next to a neglected trailer park and several abandoned and boarded-up homes. Trash was everywhere. It felt like we’ d landed in a modernday Nazareth.
Nobody knew who I was. Nobody was watching me. Nobody cared what I was doing.
And that was exactly the point.
It’ s easy to equate being seen with being significant. I’ ve preached in stadiums. I’ ve stood before thousands. I’ ve watched my videos go viral to millions. And I’ ll be honest with you— there’ s something intoxicating about it. When the lights are on you, when people are clapping, when comments like“ This changed my life” are flooding in, you start to crave it.
This urge to be noticed, to be considered important is not new. The Bible warns against selfish ambition and the desire for praise. James 3:16 tells us,“ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
" Scripture calls us to live a quiet life, focusing on faithfulness over fame, on building an altar instead of a platform, and seeking a heavenly crown over an earthly one."
Even the apostles battled this temptation. Again and again in the Gospels, they argued over who among them was the greatest. Imagine that— walking with the Son of God, watching Him heal the sick and raise the dead, yet still whispering among yourselves,“ Which one of us is the top disciple? Which one of us will sit closest to Him in glory?” And if they wrestled with it, it should
43