Devoted to the Wrong Thing: A Wake-up Call for High Achievers

WHAT are you devoted to?

WHO are you devoted to?

Most of my 20’s were devoted to my job in sales. I was in the midst of the fashion world and retail, and it was exciting. I didn’t need a college degree back then to succeed because I had a natural ability for fashion and sales, with the ability to influence others. I spent 8 years in that world – 8 years that flew by so fast. My mind (and heart) was set on becoming the ‘Miranda Priestly’ of The Devil Wears Prada, complete with an office on Broadway in New York. If you’ve ever watched the movie, you know that Miranda demanded her team’s full devotion to her.

Every morning, Miranda’s assistant was tasked with picking up Miranda’s piping hot coffee order – “one no-foam skimmed latte with an extra shot and three drip coffees with room for milk”. And that coffee run was only the peak of her assistant’s required devotion to Miranda. Let’s not forget the expectation of around-the-clock availability Miranda expected of her assistant, the extreme errands and impossible tasks (i.e. getting the new Harry Potter manuscript BEFORE the publisher for her twins to read over the summer), the neglect of one’s own personal life to the benefit of Miranda, the expectation of perfection with anticipation of her every need, and unquestioning loyalty. For Miranda’s assistant, Andy, that job was exhausting.

And that’s exactly my experience in the industry. Exhausting.

But I wasn’t the “assistant” in my own story. I wasn’t picking up coffee or dropping off scarves to a photo shoot.

No, I had become MIRANDA.

I recall one store visit when I was hosting a team of visual merchandisers, a buyer, and a VP, and more than one store manager required their own teams to work overnight to get their stores PERFECT for the visit. As we traveled from store to store, I could see the heaviness of how tired they were in their eyes – all of them just waiting for the visit to be over so they could go home and sleep. Just like Miranda, the expectation I had placed on all of my stores was perfection. Anticipation. Unquestioning loyalty. They were devoted to me, but me? I wasn’t not devoted to my team. I was devoted to my job.

Can you imagine being devoted to something who does nothing for you?

A job can’t love you. A job can’t sustain your happiness. A job cannot console you when things go wrong.

Some of you are so devoted to your JOBS that you’re missing out on a great life.

But here’s the truth no one told me back then: devotion is sacred. It’s not just about where you spend your time, but where you place your trust. Your devotion becomes your direction. And when my direction was only tied to my career, my sense of worth was directly tied to my performance. If I didn’t perform, I didn’t feel like I had value.

But God.

God, in His mercy, let me burn out so I could wake up.

He let me see what it’s like to have every title, every accolade, every compliment—and still feel empty when I laid my head on the pillow at night. He let me taste a version of “success” that didn’t satisfy me, so I could discover the only One who could.

When I began to devote myself to God—truly and fully—I found what I’d been chasing all along: peace, clarity, joy, love, and real rest.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

You see, when you’re devoted to God, you don’t have to perform to be accepted. You don’t have to be perfect to be seen. You don’t have to work overtime to be loved.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Let me say it plain: God is not your boss—He’s your Father. And He’s not looking for your hustle. He’s after your heart.

So let me ask you again…

WHAT are you devoted to?

WHO are you devoted to?

Because whatever (or whoever) has your devotion will ultimately determine the condition of your soul.

If it’s a job, a relationship, a title, or even your own ambition—it will never be enough.

But when your devotion is rooted in Christ, you will never run dry.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

Today, I’m no longer chasing success—I’m walking with purpose.

I’m no longer demanding loyalty—I’m practicing love.

And I’m no longer living exhausted—I’m living devoted.

Devoted to the only One who gave it all… so I could finally rest in what truly matters.