Rihanna's Rise to Stardom: The Spiritual Side

Rihanna's Rise to Stardom: From Broken Home to Billionaire: The Spiritual Side of Rihanna's Success and What Christians Can Learn from Rihanna's Rise to Fame.

As Christians, we are taught not to idolize celebrities and may even look down on them, but there is one thing I find in celebrities when it comes to their rise to stardom: unwavering faith and confidence. They have a knowing that they are going to be the next big thing. They don't know when or how, they just keep pushing forward regardless of the number of no's and discouragement they face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Bsp_zwJ5U

Meanwhile, the typical Christian will often give up on the first or second "no", wait on "God's timing," or say "I'll let God take care of it" instead of taking the needed steps forward. Is that you? If it is, don't worry, we're going to take an example from Rihanna's life and dive into the spiritual practices that God set into the very world for anyone. Some people call it the "universe," but God created the universe in the first place. He does not show favoritism, so why does it seem like certain people soar while others remain on the ground with their wings clipped? Read on to find out.

Spiritual Practice #1: Your Pain will Bring out Your Purpose

Many of us struggle to embrace the challenges we face, yet these very challenges often hold the key to our breakthrough if we can see the bigger picture. Instead of cursing your problems, consider thanking God for the opportunity to grow and discover your purpose.

Rihanna had an unstable home life growing up, which is common for most of us; A father who was addicted to drugs and alcohol, financial instability, domestic violence, and she suffered from severe headaches due to the trauma. As a matter of fact, she's probably been through worse than a lot of people have during her childhood.

Did she let that break her? No, this propelled her into her gifting of music, which is her ministry. Your ministry is how you serve people using the gifts that God gave you. She took her talent and did not bury it. She multiplied it and gave it back to others.

Matthew 25: 14-30- Parable of the Talents

Spiritual Practice #2: Preparation & Training

Your gift is something natural to you, however it does need to be practiced. You may have a gift to play the piano, but you can't just go out into an audience and start playing Beethoven for the first time. You have to earn your keep. When you are trying to find your footing, the best thing you can do is study the people you look up to in the field you are trying to get into. When you discover your God-given talent or gift, train your skills as if you were an athlete preparing for the season.

You can take bits and pieces of what you like about others and make it your own. Rihanna loved Mariah Carey (there's an interesting story about that, stick to the end), Madonna, and Bob Marley. You can see bits of their personalities intertwined into her work. Her blend of reggae, pop, hip hop, and R&B created the unique sound that made her who she is. You don't have to create something completely new from scratch; just recreate it and make it your own.

Spiritual Practice #3: Stepping Stones and Alignment

Zechariah 4:10 NLT Do not despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

Most of us want to give up when we don't see the numbers or pull we were expecting, but the beginning steps are the training ground needed to build momentum to launch. It's to test if you will give up over every minor inconvenience or setback. Something I have observed is that problems don't just go away because you're rich and famous. You get a whole new set of problems to deal with. You may not have issues with money anymore, but now the new issue is people trying to take advantage of you. New and higher levels mean a new and harder boss to defeat, but it makes you stronger.

Rihanna was in a girl group when she was discovered by Evan Rogers, who just so happened to be traveling in Barbados. He noticed Rihanna's talent immediately and wanted to work with her. Imagine if she said she was too good for a group?

Do not despise small beginnings because they lead to synchronicities, alignment, and divine opportunities. This is the moment she broke free and turned into a butterfly through transformation and change. She had to move out of her hometown to chase her dreams for this once in a life time opportunity. She was young when she moved into a stranger's home. Some of us miss major opportunities due to fear, but what you don't realize is that God's working hand is in it.

Change requires discomfort. Are you willing to be uncomfortable if it would change your life? Ironically, his wife was also from Barbados, which is how Rihanna probably knew this was a divine opportunity from God because He makes all the connections line up. This is where she was refined, molded, and further developed. This type of cultivation and honing in on her craft led her to her next big break through: a signed record deal with Jay-Z.

It was said he was reluctant at first because he did not know if she could be consistent, and she was young. At this point, it is not just about the music. It is about the artist as a whole. She has already proven to have drive and consistency. This is what God teaches you during the training and preparation season. You cannot just give up over every inconvience big or small. We have seen firsthand where people had the most devastating news delivered to them right before a performace and they still kept going because it was not about them anymore. It goes beyond themselves.

Is there anything that God has called you to but you gave up? Refresh that step and start again.

One thing that I've noticed about Rihanna is that anyone who encountered her knew there was something special about her innately. They just had a knowing. Beyonce said it, Jay-Z said it, and Evan Rogers said it. They sensed it spiritually and energetically. This exuded in her inner being and outer confidence. When God gives you something, others will be able to sense it even if they can't quite put their finger on it. It is a spiritual light that God gives everyone.

Spiritual Practice #4: A Setback is a Divine Opportunity for a Comeback

Rihanna is just like any other human on the planet who experiences setbacks in life, only her's was made known publicly to the world. She experienced a devastating moment with her previous partner, which changed both of their trajectories. Her performance that night even had to be cancelled, and sensitive photos were displayed for public viewing. Imagine going through a domestic violence incident and your disfigured face is on every news outlet.

Would you crumble or move forward?

Rihanna allowed this incident to expand her growth. She now had a new grit in her voice. She took destiny into her own hands. She used the darkness for her good. She expressed this through her newfound artistic freedom in her following album. Sher poured this energy into her art. Certain things shape you and bring about growth only through pain. You achieve this by removing your pride and getting over yourself. You have to enter a flow state of mind by being uninhibited and letting your soul speak.

Ironically, her mother also experienced domestic violence. You have to be intentional about breaking generational curses and bondages otherwise, it has the potential to follow you. But this situation molded her into the person she is today. In the same year, she even experienced money mismanagement issues, which almost left her bankrupt. Despite this, she kept going. She kept shedding the old identity and built on the new identity.

Spiritual Practice #5: You will Experience Criticism

Everyone experiences criticism. When it comes to judgment about your talent, it can feel extra personal. People started to say Rihanna couldn't sing. It began to spread and people's opinions started to change. They would compare her voice to other vocalists to prove that it didn't "match up." I almost started to believe this myself. This was until I started to listen to songs with the original artist against Rihanna's version. I undeniably preferred Rihanna's version. There is something about her voice and energy that makes it sound better. It's her unique fingerprint.

People may doubt your God-given gifts, maybe out of their own lack and insecurity, but you can't take anything personally. Do not fall into the imposter syndrome trap. The devil wants more than anything to insert doubt into your mind so you can give up. This is just a distraction.

Sometimes, the extra accolades, degrees, and unnecessary education can actually hold you back from pursuing what God has called you to do. She has an intuitive knowing of singing. If you have all this head knowledge, it does not necessarily make you better. It can cause you to overthink whether you're doing the right thing or not, rather than just doing it. Complexities, jargon, and unnecessary techniques can often hold you back. Do not let the world box you in with what you must have. Flow with what God already gave you.

Spiritual Practice #6: Full Circle Moments will Happen

Everything will come together in the end. Rihanna probably did not see the full vision in the beginning, but she kept stepping forward, step by step, regardless of criticism, judgment, and opinions. You have to be free from what people say about you, good or bad. It should not move you away from the goal post.

She ends up earning the National Hero award in her home country, which is a full 360 moment because she performed Hero by Mariah Carey at a talent show she won. She now charts with the very same peers she once looked up to.

Through imagination, creativity, excellence, discipline, and commitment, you too can achieve your dreams. You are no different from Rihanna. As a child of God, you should be confident in faith. She never forgot where she came from. She was never prideful but proud. People love Rihanna's down-to-earth and humble spirit. She still rolls with the same friends and family members from childhood.

Spiritual Practice #7: Leave the Former Things Behind

You have to be true to who you are while remaining flexible so you can evolve and reinvent yourself. Sometimes you have to move on to the next big thing and leave the former things behind. Some are not able to let go of past legacies and move on to something new, but this is the very means by which Rihanna became a billionaire. She created a revolutionary cosmetic line with an inclusive shade range. She did not use her celebrity status as a money grab. It came from genuine authenticity and people can tell.

She addressed a known issue in her community and did something about it. If you are experiencing a problem that you cannot find a solution to, you were meant to fix that problem. That is why God put you here. There are others also looking for the same solution you can provide.

You may say there are millions of other solutions out there. So what? No one can do it like you can. That is why you have a unique fingerprint. How does God manage to give everyone in the world a unique fingerprint? That's because there is no one like you. She was willing to let go of the music and cross into something else, which made her a billionaire.

You could be blocking your own blessings because you refuse to let go of the old things and move on to something new. Ironically, the things she learned from her music career, such as consistency, money management, and creativity, probably helped her in her other business ventures. This is how God works; the training he provided you in the past can help you in other areas in the future.

So, What's the Secret Formula?

Uniqueness & Authenticity: Be the person God made you to be. Love who you are and never forget where you came from. Rihanna was able to evolve while remaining true to her core.

Strength & Resiliency: Stand up for yourself and set boundaries to protect your peace and energy; otherwise, you can lose it all.

Generosity: Don't forget to give back to your community and those who supported you along the way. God loves a cheerful giver. Share your resources with others rather than hoarding them for yourself.

Remember that it's still not easy at whatever level you reach. This is not just about you, it's also about others. You still have to deal with criticism, sadness, rejection, and impostor syndrome even more now than ever before. You may even wish to go back to your former life, even though you prayed for this. What you learn during your preparation and training season is what will help you during your maintenance season