Why Successful People Are Secretly Miserable
Why modern men and women are exhausted by the approval trap—and how the Imago Dei unlocks true craftsmanship, freedom, and deep spiritual rest.
Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Colossians 3:23-24 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for human men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
OVERVIEW
“If you created something and no one used it, would you still find satisfaction?
So many men spend their lives earning an identity—chasing impact, security, approval, and applause in every arena of life. We fear that if no one sees our art, our work, our labor, it didn’t matter. Or worse, that we don’t matter.
So we push harder, striving for more money, more power, and more posts. And before long, we’re addicted to cheap dopamine hits that leave us insecure and exhausted the moment our progress stops.
Somewhere along the way, we traded the quiet God-given joy of craftsmanship, innovation, beauty… for worldly approval.
But what if Jesus had a solution for this?
As Christians, we weren’t made to be cheap consumers of validation. God designed us for both spiritual rest and deeply fulfilling work. It says in his word that we are crafted by an intentional Creator to reflect the Imago Dei (the image of God): to step into the arena, tame chaos, create beauty, and build in partnership with the Lord (Ephesians 2:10). Let’s dive into this through the lens of Frieren.
FRIEREN: BEYOND JOURNEY’S END
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is arguably one of the most popular anime of recent years. The story centers on an elf who lives for centuries, watching her friends pass away and human ambitions fade. When we encounter her, she doesn’t rush through life or panic over short-term trends or social clout. Instead, she finds profound, quiet joy in the meticulous mastery of her craft, deep bonds of fellowship with her companions, and restoring order to ruined spaces. She isn’t motivated by or seeking applause from the townsfolk; she acts out of a deep intrinsic identity and a quiet commitment to the work itself. Admirable, right?
Cool, cool… but how do I get that?
THE IMAGE OF GOD
Our answer is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus lived out the image of God as God incarnate, providing the ultimate, flawless example for us. Theological scholars have explained the idea of Imago Dei into three dimensions: the substantive, the relational, and the functional image.
The Substantive Image (Identity): In His personhood, Jesus possessed an unshakeable, God-given worth that didn’t depend on what people thought, what He achieved in the eyes of man, or how many people applaud Him.
The Relational Image (Community): In His ministry, Jesus lived out the relational image, pouring Himself into a tight-knit brotherhood of disciples and entering into deep, constant communion with the Father.
The Functional Image (Mission): In His mission, Jesus fully executed the functional mandate, steadily carrying out His Father’s assignment right down to the cross without bending to the shifting demands or applause of the crowds, securing an everlasting victory (John 17:4).
When rooted in Christ, your identity, your relationships, and your daily work naturally mirror that same steadfast devotion. (You were designed that way.)
DEVOTIONAL
1. The Substantive Image: Identity
Your value was defined before you were even born. God created you in His image, which means you do not need to prove your inherent worth to anyone.
Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image (bara), in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Hebrew Toolkit: To bara (baw-raw) means to create. It refers specifically to divine creation—bringing something entirely new into existence out of nothing.
The Frieren Connection: Frieren’s existence as an elf carries an inherent weight and legacy that does not fluctuate based on her reputation. She possesses a deep, unshakeable sense of self because of what she is, not because of daily public praise.
The Takeaway:
Because your worth is established by God, rejection or misalignment is simply a matter of fit, not a reflection of your value. Your identity, who you are, is not something you have to hustle for every morning, but something that emerges naturally as you root deeply in Him.
2. The Relational Image: Fellowship
God exists in eternal, perfect relationship within the Trinity. As His image-bearers, it is only natural that we too are designed for relationship in community. His heart for fellowship is one of deep-seated intimacy, mutual growth, and strength.
Genesis 2:18 — “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone (bad); I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
Hebrew Toolkit: Bad (bawd) means alone or isolated. True fellowship rescues us from the isolation that undermines strength and resilience. (Note: Avodah refers to service or work, whereas isolation from community is what God declared “not good.”)
The Frieren Connection: Frieren begins her journey as an isolated, emotionally detached elf. But her greatest magic, endurance, and purpose are unlocked only when she learns to fight alongside and for her companions.
The Takeaway:
In biblical community, mutual service, accountability, and shared mission bind men together into a resilient front-line force. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, you can weather any battle and accomplish your God-given goals.
3. The Functional Image: Cultivation
When we stop striving for worldly success, fame, and validation, a false fear can creep in: What if we become lazy and fall into spiritual entropy? Remember that you are created in the Image of God to bring order, stewardship, and craftsmanship to the chaos around you.
Genesis 2:15 — “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work (melakah) it and keep it.”
Hebrew Toolkit: Melakah (meh-la-kaw) translates as work or craftsmanship. It is intentional labor that takes raw, formless environments and transforms them with structure, utility, and excellence.
The Frieren Connection: Whenever Frieren and her party encounter a neglected village, a messy camp, or an overwhelming obstacle, she methodically sets things in order and executes precise solutions. She understands that purposeful action maintains order and pushes back against decay.
The Takeaway:
When walking in relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit moves you to create, work, and build. But this time, you do it from a place of supernatural strength and passion rooted in the Father, rather than driven by the fear of man.
WAKE UP CALL
Are you tired of the rat race that never pays off, endlessly chasing success and fame for the security and approval you’re desperately looking for?
When you live from the outside in, you become a slave to man. But when we live a Christ-centered life from the inside out, the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in true freedom. Instead of hustling for a promotion, a friend group, or a vacation to prove we matter, our work flows from a victory already won.
We’ll explore what this looks like in our upcoming series, Image of God:
Craftsmanship: Finding quiet joy in the mastery of your work.
Curiosity & Discovery: Exploring the world without fear.
Beauty & Order: Taming chaos and restoring our spaces.
Innovation: Creating boldly to reflect a making God.
TAVERN TALK
Where have you caught yourself this past week letting external validation drive your actions rather than operating from a secure internal identity?
What is one specific idol (comfort, success, validation, money, power, politics, approval, entertainment) you need to release to the Lord this week?
May God Bless You and Keep You
Image via ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ (Madhouse)
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APPENDIX
HEBREW
Bara (בָּרָא / Baw-raw) – Hebrew (To create or shape): The divine act of bringing foundational reality and substantive existence into being.
Origin/Linguistics: Used exclusively in the Hebrew Bible with God as the subject, emphasizing absolute origination and intrinsic worth that cannot be replicated or destroyed by human hands.
Biblical Meaning & Modern Relevance: Because God bara (created) you in His image, your value is objective and built-in. You don’t need to construct a fake digital avatar to prove you matter; your core substance is a gift from the Creator.
Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה / Ah-vo-dah) – Hebrew (Service, Labor, or Worship): The intrinsic posture of offering every physical action and task as direct service to God and in fellowship with others.
Origin/Linguistics: Stemming from a root meaning to work or serve, avodah bridges the sacred and the secular. In ancient Hebrew thought, there was no sharp wall between “religious work” and “secular labor”—tending a garden, building a wall, or governing a city were all considered acts of worship before the Creator.
Biblical Meaning & Modern Relevance: This destroys the modern mindset that views work as a meaningless punishment. For a Christian man, avodah means your daily grind, your studies, and your physical labor carry eternal weight when done for Christ (Colossians 3:23).
Melakah (מְלָאכָה / Meh-la-kaw) – Hebrew (Craftsmanship, Handiwork, or Enterprise): The purposeful exertion of human creativity and skill to build order and beauty out of raw materials.
Origin/Linguistics: Used throughout the Old Testament to describe the intricate construction of the tabernacle and the creative work of God in Genesis, melakah denotes skilled craftsmanship that requires both intelligence and physical execution.
Biblical Meaning & Modern Relevance: You are designed to be a creator and a builder. Whether you are coding software, designing a structure, writing music, or organizing your workspace, your melakah pushes back against the curse of chaos and reflects the creative character of your Maker.
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