In today’s fast-paced world, success is often measured by how much we accomplish and how quickly we do it. We’re pushed to move faster and do more in less time, and though it’s practical to measure progress in some areas of our lives, this relentless chase for more often leaves us burned out, empty, and wondering why we feel so drained.
Could it be that our burnout comes from focusing on the wrong things? Our focus on speed and quantity is shallow—and so is our fulfillment. What if the answer isn’t about doing more, faster but going deeper for longer?
Scripture says, At each place they went, they strengthened the lives of the believers and encouraged them to go deeper in their faith. —Acts 14:22 TPT
In this verse, we see Paul and Barnabas traveling and spreading the good news of Jesus. It’s important to note that a few verses earlier, Paul was literally stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19). This wasn’t just a hardship; it was brutal, life-threatening opposition.
Yet Paul got up. And not only did he stand up, but he also went back into the very city where people tried to kill him. He faced the very place that had brought him pain and kept moving forward preaching the gospel. Paul didn’t just rise physically; he rose spiritually too. He faced fear, death, and opposition head-on and declared they had no hold on him.
This is a powerful lesson for all of us. Paul’s example shows that to truly move forward, we often need to confront our past experiences—our pain, our struggles, our disappointments—not to be defeated by them but to be strengthened through them. The things meant to break us can be used by God to make us. And when we go back to those places of hurt, declaring God’s power and victory, we override the enemy’s plan to keep us down.
But there’s more to Paul’s journey. Verse 22 tells us that Paul and Barnabas strengthened the lives of the believers and encouraged them to go deeper in their faith. This is key. They weren’t focused just on doing more or reaching more people. They were focused on depth—on strengthening and deepening the believers’ faith. They didn’t say, “Do more for God”; they said, “Believe more in God,” and they said this after they were stoned and left for dead.
What does that mean for us?
It means that if we want to go further in life, despite the pain we’ve experienced, we need to go deeper with the Lord. If you want to overcome your past, go deeper. If you want to endure the trials you’re facing, go deeper. If you want to experience true success, go deeper. If you want to live a life that counts, go deeper. If you want to dream bolder with God, go deeper.
The real answer is not in how fast or far we go, but in how deep we go with Christ. The deeper we go in our relationship with Him, the stronger we become and the more we are able to endure. Therefore, going further with the Lord is always a by-product of first going deeper with Him. Your growth is a reflection of your depth. To go higher, you must go deeper.
Today, I encourage you to stop chasing the world’s version of success and start pursuing true depth with the Lord. Go deeper in your faith. Go deeper in your understanding of His love and His plan for your life. That’s where we find the strength to keep going, the power to overcome, and the fulfillment you’re searching for.
(Excerpt from my daily devotional - BOLD: 101 Daily Devotions to DREAM BOLD & LIVE BIGGER)
Revel: Where in your life are you focusing on speed or quantity rather than depth with the Lord? Take time today to shift your goal from merely going further in life to seeking a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. Spend extra time in prayer, asking God to help you grow in faith, wisdom, and closeness with Him instead of running faster after the things of this world.
Dream Stack: What would it look like to show up boldly for my dream today, even if yesterday wasn’t perfect? First, go deeper, then … go further! Do one more. Write it down. Do it. Count it.
✨ Want to take the next step in your own dream journey? Grab a copy of my book BOLD: 101 Daily Devotions to DREAM BOLD and LIVE BIGGER and join our online community BOLD DREAMERS—where faith, dreams, and divine connections come alive.
