Letter 4, When I Thought Ambition Was Purpose

A Letter to the Momma Who Is Busy Doing Everything—and Running on Empty

Dear Momma,

Slow down.

Pause.

Take a seat.

I know it’s hard, but put your phone down too. The text message, the email response, the post, and the purchase can wait. And if they cannot wait—why not?

Breathe.

Close your eyes and think back: When was the last time you truly rested your mind, body, and spirit?

Was it only when you finally went to bed?

Do you “crash” often?

Do you keep spinning your wheels until they stop on their own, or do you intentionally choose an ending time each day—stewarding how much energy and attention you give to everything in your hands?

Can the toys be put away later so you can take a shower?

Can the dishes wait while you spend a moment with Jesus—in the Word or in worship?

Can the list wait while you pray?

And when you pray, are you only asking, telling, and crying?

When do you listen?

I am not asking these questions from a place of judgment. I am sharing the same questions I had to ask myself.

Where was my frustration coming from?

Why was I so impatient?

Why did my constant complaints always seem to center on not having enough time or not getting enough rest?

Was I truly lacking time—or was I failing to steward it well?

The Holy Spirit revealed something to me:

Ambition and purpose are not the same.

Yet so often, we are driven by ambition while forsaking the very purpose God has placed within our hearts and hands.

We do not always do it knowingly, but we can still choose it willingly. We exchange our call to serve those entrusted to us, disciple our children, and help them grow for the pursuit of becoming great and acquiring more.

It may not be intentional, but it is a very real threat to the things God has called us to do, build, and nurture.

The desire for success often begins small. It introduces itself as an idea and grows into a vision.

But vision that is not surrendered to God—vision that refuses His timing and consumes more and more of us—can become an idol.

Our purpose in God may be the thing that is not ready to be shared yet.

It is still growing within us.

Even after we give birth to it, it requires attention, nurturing, feeding, and intentional care. Its growth cannot be hurried.

Ambition, when it becomes unhealthy and remains unsurrendered to ABBA, can look like:

• Hurried success

• Premature release

• Burnout

• Neglecting family

• Neglecting rest

• Distance from God

It does not happen all at once.

It happens slowly, over time.

Today, I am exposing the lie that everything must be built through the sweat of my brow—the lie that has tried to invade my heart, mind, and home.

Jesus came to set the captives free, and I will no longer live captive to my own desire to succeed.

Whether the world watches or never sees it, I will surrender my life fully to God—right here, in this place where:

He leads.

He starts.

He authors.

He finishes.

And I:

Obey.

Wait.

Forgive.

Heal.

Live.

My ambition will not rule me in this season.

I will agree with Heaven concerning the season I am in. I will trust the timing of God more than my urge to become famous, followed, seen, or heard.

Growth is often quiet.

We do not always see it while it is happening. We recognize it after it has happened.

Take one moment and one day at a time.

What has God placed in your hands right now?

Do not put it down unfinished, but do not hurry simply to say it is done. Focus on developing it until it is ready before beginning another batch.

Wait for the thing you are mixing and mastering to become complete.

God may give us more than one assignment at once. He may lead us to build more than one thing in the same season.

But He will not ask us to glorify Him through a pace that continually empties us or causes us to abandon the people He has called us to lead and serve.

Ambition tells you that you are ready when you are not.

Purpose prepares you for what ambition never could.

Ambition is centered on you.

Purpose is God placing you among the people who need what He has entrusted to you.

Be released today from chasing after what the world wants.

Let us pursue what God wants.

And before He wants what you can produce, publish, or build—He wants you.

Hungry.

Fully submitted.

Surrendered.

Today, we journey forward in purpose—and on purpose—with God.

Allow Him to reveal where ambition has been hiding in your life.

Repent of self-ambition, and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal and repair the place within you that welcomed it.

Deny the flesh and its desire to succeed at any cost.

Surrender your plans, your way, and your life to Jesus—and follow Him.

Choose His path.

His way.

His will.

May God’s purpose become your focus.

May your heart and spirit settle into contentment with where He has placed you today.

And may you remember, Momma:

You do not have to strive here.

You are invited to abide.

Scriptures to Sit With

“It really is senseless to work so hard from early morning till late at night, toiling to make a living for fear of not having enough. God can provide for his devoted lovers even while they sleep!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127‬:‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“A person may have many ideas concerning God’s plan for his life, but only the designs of God’s purpose will succeed in the end.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭21‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Journal the Journey

•Do you live in fear of not having enough?

•Do you fully trust God to supply all of your needs?

•Are you trusting God fully with the vision He has given you, to form it, build it and share it in His timing?

•Do you believe you’ve joined your plans to God’s plan…or are you asking God to join YOUR plan?

Keep growing. Keep healing. Keep loving. Keep your eyes on ABBA.

With a sincere heart,

Jantina💕

If this letter met you in a tender place, would you share it with another momma who may need grace today?

And if you have ever felt the overwhelm of navigating raising several littles at once, I would love for you to share in the comments. Your story may become the encouragement another mother needs.

© 2026 Jantina Masters. All rights reserved.

Please do not reproduce or distribute this letter without written permission. Brief quotations may be shared with proper credit to Jantina Masters and a link to the original publication.