“When Desire Meets Discipline”
There’s a big difference between wanting to be great and striving to be great. On the surface, they sound similar, but in reality, they lead to two very different paths.
Wanting to be great is a desire. It’s a thought, an idea, sometimes even a dream. Striving to be great, on the other hand, is a pursuit. It’s action. It’s discipline. It’s the willingness to put in the work when it’s not glamorous, to keep showing up when no one is watching, and to make sacrifices because you see the bigger picture.
Why the Difference Matters
If you only want to be great, you can get stuck in the cycle of waiting. Waiting for motivation. Waiting for the perfect moment. Waiting for someone to hand you the opportunity. But greatness doesn’t come to the ones who just want it—it comes to the ones who strive for it.
When you strive, you shift from passivity to movement. You step into the process. You may not have everything figured out, but you are in motion. And motion brings growth, resilience, and eventually, results.
James 2:17 puts it clearly: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” In other words, wanting without striving is empty.
The Power of Agreement in Relationships
On the journey of striving, who you walk with matters deeply. Scripture asks in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” If you are striving for greatness, but your circle is only content with wanting it, you’ll constantly feel pulled in two directions.
This is why friendships, romantic relationships, mentors, and even casual circles of influence should be chosen intentionally. You need people around you who fuel your fire, not drain it. People who remind you of your “why” when you’re tired, who push you when you feel like settling, and who live out the discipline of striving themselves.
Surrounding Yourself with Strivers
When you surround yourself with people who strive to be great:
You are inspired by their consistency.
You are challenged by their standards.
You are strengthened by their support.
And on the flip side, your own striving can inspire them too. Greatness becomes easier when it’s shared. It becomes less of a lonely road and more of a collective pursuit.
Choosing to Strive
So the real question to ask yourself is: Do I want to be great, or am I willing to strive to be great?
One is comfort. The other is commitment. One is passive hope. The other is active faith.
Surround yourself with the right people, align yourself with God’s wisdom, and commit to the path of striving. Because greatness is never just about reaching the destination—it’s about the journey, the growth, and the people you choose to walk with along the way.