
He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease
Ever wondered what God was thinking when He decided you’d be a part of His creation? I mean, how did He decide who got what gifts, what circumstances, what role in this grand story? I know it’s a bit of a silly frame of mind to get caught up in, but surely He understands the questioning in my heart. After all, He created it, right?
This morning, as I was reading my Bible, I found myself in John 3:22-30. It’s the passage where both John and Jesus are baptizing in different locations: Jesus in the Judean countryside and John in Aenon. John’s disciples, seeing that people are starting to leave him and flock to Jesus, get a little worked up. They approach John, saying, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing—and everyone is going to Him!”
John’s response is quick, yet gentle. He says, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from Heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of Him.’”
Then John uses a beautiful metaphor: “He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Wow. What a perspective.
God’s “Tonja Checklist”
Now, let’s return to my original train of thought: How did God design me? Sometimes, I imagine God with a checklist in mind when He created me. Picture it:
God’s Checklist for Tonja
- Pleasant and forgiving (check)
- Takes a lot to get angry (check)
- Loves pretty much everyone (check)
- Musician with a voice (check)
- Love language: words of affirmation (check)
- Put her in a space where she must be forgiving, stay pleasant, and navigate failure with grace, all while receiving little to no affirmation (check!)
I’m sure God didn’t have that exact checklist, but in my imagination, it looks something like that. There’s that funny, human tendency to think God must have a sense of humor when He chose our attributes. But when I stop and reflect, it’s clear: He designed me—and all of us—specifically for the journey we’re meant to take with Him.
Worldly Pressure vs. Kingdom Purpose
Here’s where the world gets tricky. Everywhere you look, society tells you: Be more. Do more. Get more. Be the best. Beat the competition. If you’re not ruthless, if you’re not climbing the ladder with anger or jealousy, then you’ll never make it. It seems like success is measured by the size of your platform, the number of your followers, and how loud the world cheers for you.
But when we shift from “world thinking” to “God thinking,” it all changes. What if success isn't about collecting accolades or gaining recognition? What if it’s about pointing others to Christ, using the very gifts God gave us? John the Baptist understood this. He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
We live in a world that tells us to elevate ourselves, but God calls us to elevate Him. Our talents, our roles, our voices—whatever they are—should all point back to the One who gave them to us.
True Success: A Heart for Christ
So, to answer the question I get asked often: “Do I feel successful in music?” Well, success is a tricky thing to define. If by success you mean being on a world tour, selling thousands of albums, or having a massive social media following—then no, I haven’t “made it.”
But if success means pointing people toward Christ, using my music to share His glory, and sharing the spotlight so others can see Him—then yes, I am beyond blessed and truly successful.
It’s not easy, of course. I’m human, and that pull toward worldly validation is strong. There are days when it feels difficult to let go of the spotlight, to surrender that space. But as I grow in my walk with Christ, as I see things through His eyes, there’s a deep peace that settles into my soul. I don’t need to chase worldly definitions of success when I know that in Him, I am already complete.
The Invitation
So, my friend—how about you? What’s your definition of success? Are you allowing Christ to increase in your life while you decrease? Are you using your gifts to point others to Him, or are you holding tightly to your own platform?
Remember: We were created uniquely by God for a specific purpose. It’s not about more, more, more. It’s about less of us and more of Him. That’s where true joy and success lie.








