Why Bigger Isn't Always Better

The world tells us that if we’re not still climbing, still growing, we’re somehow falling behind. But is that really true?

We live in a culture obsessed with more. And I've found myself caught up in that mindset too often. More followers, more influence, more impact. It’s as if success is only measured by the size of our platform. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, as I’ve mostly departed from social media for marketing purposes.

And as a freelancer, there are so many ways that I might be tempted to find some way to scale up. Isn't that what everyone does? They start a business or launch a product, and then the natural expectation is to scale up. Hire people. Have worker bees so they can work fewer days.

It doesn't stop there. Bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger retirement funds, and bigger dreams and goals are right there in the bundle of bigger thinking.

I call this relentless push “bigosity”—the belief that we should always be expanding, growing, and making a name for ourselves. (A little aside: I thought I was clever and had coined a term several months ago when I jotted it on a sticky note on my desk. But Google says otherwise, and now I'm shaking my head a little about believing I was that clever. Ha!)

Let’s be honest; this bigosity message is everywhere, especially in midlife. It isn’t only for the dreamer starting out post-graduation. And it certainly isn’t limited to value meals at the golden-arched burger place.

Scroll through social media, and you’ll find a flood of courses and seminars promising to help you scale, multiply, and maximize.

“Grow your audience in 30 days!”

“10x your impact overnight!”

"Maximize Your Assets."

The pressure is relentless. If you’re not reaching more people, are you even making a difference? The world says no—but God’s perspective is different.

Photo by Muhammadh Saamy on Unsplash

The Midlife Perspective

At this stage of life, many of us feel the weight of time. We wonder if we’ve done enough, if we’re making a big enough impact. The world tells us that if we’re not still climbing, still growing, we’re somehow falling behind. We're on the cusp of greatness if we just push for something bigger.

But is that really true? What if faithfulness matters more than fame? What if, instead of always expanding, we focused on going deeper? I feel this so much when I look at my book sales numbers or followers.

I ask so many questions. What does a "bestseller" really mean in terms of my life as a writer? Should I aim to speak to larger crowds? Or is the coziness of thirty women where God wants me?

The Biblical View of Impact

Jesus never chased numbers. He had moments of speaking to thousands, but he also spent time pouring into twelve. He regularly stepped away from the crowds. His mission wasn’t about becoming well-known but about fulfilling the Father’s will.

The same is true for us. Our calling isn’t about how far we can spread our name but about how faithfully we live out what God has given us to do. For me, that's at a keyboard, mostly solo in my office and occasionally in front of a small group of conferees. It feels so small in light of this grand world we live in.

What is it for you?

What has God placed on your heart? And has bigosity made you question whether it’s enough? I’ve often repeated the idea that if your dream doesn’t scare you, maybe it’s not big enough. But lately, I’ve been reconsidering that. Do I still believe it? Or have I bought into the idea that only grand, intimidating goals are worth pursuing?

What if the vision God gave you is already just right? What if chasing more doesn’t mean chasing something better? If I’m honest, my fear isn’t about the size of the goal—it’s about the cost of stepping fully into what God has called me to do. It’s about sharing what he’s doing in my life, even when it challenges popular thought.

A Different Way to Measure Success

The world measures impact by numbers. God measures impact by obedience. It’s not wrong to have goals or to grow, but when growth becomes the goal, we can easily lose sight of what truly matters. Midlife brings clarity—if we let it. It’s a chance to reassess what success really means. Instead of chasing bigosity, we can lean into purpose, faithfulness, and the kind of impact that doesn’t always come in quantifiable ways—or doesn't come with multiple digits.

Are you willing to redefine success for yourself as well? Let’s stop believing that bigger is always better. Faithfulness is the measure that matters most. And in the end, it’s not about how many people know our name—it’s about hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And if you’ve been hesitating to step into what God has placed on your heart because you think you need more—more money, more space, more followers—consider this: What if you already have enough? What if the time is now? Don’t let bigosity convince you that your dream isn’t worth pursuing unless it’s grand. God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, even with the small and simple.

Start where you are. Trust him with the rest.