Your purpose.
Do you ever wonder, why am I here? In those moments of exhaustion, frustration and anxiety is when they can be the worst. What’s the point? Why am I going through all of this? These are all things I have wondered so many times.
What’s your purpose? It’s the ultimate question so many of us wonder. When I think about this I think what will people say at my funeral? Morbid, I know. But if it was open mic, what would people say? I don’t want to hear things like “she was a good worker” or “she was a bit of a introvert.” No! Not at all! I want them to say things like “she would give and give” or “she was always there when I needed her.” But in asking myself this, are there any people that could say those things? What about you? What would people say at your funeral?
Working through these thoughts I wondered just how I would find out my purpose and what plan I could work through to get to the point of knowing I have a purpose. The following things are working for me. Do I have a clear direct path to what my purpose is? Of course not, then I wouldn’t need faith. Do I have a better understanding of what I am capable of because of the following, absolutely.
First we need to LISTEN. Listen to God and what He is telling you. Is he speaking? Are you listening? Oftentimes I will ask God “where are you”? Only to think about his response being “I’m right here, you just aren’t paying attention to me.” I get so caught up in my daily tasks that I often forget to slow down and listen.
Many people will ask, does God directly speak to you? I remind myself that God speaks to us in so many different ways. Take David for example. David was a man after God’s own heart who was very close to God. After years of waiting and pursuing being king, God did not deliver a parade or a crowd of trumpets. God did not show up on his doorstep or even appear in a burning bush. God sent a construction crew to build his temple, and David knew from that moment on, he was king. In the same chapter God spoke to David about his plan of attack for war. Verbally spoke to him. Something so big in David’s life as being king and God didn’t give him the message directly.
This goes to show God will talk to you in so many different ways, through people, circumstances, and feelings. Trust your gut, oftentimes that is the Lord.
Second, we need to have faith. Endless faith. Faith no matter what. Faith knowing He is the way the truth and the life. This faith will carry you through. So many people say it is easy to have faith when things are going good. I have always tilted my head at that statement. I find when things are hard is when my faith is the strongest. I need somewhere to turn. I need to know someone is fighting for me. My faith grows in those times of absolute despair.
Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus, along with Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus was away preaching and Lazarus passed away. When Jesus received word of his passing, Jesus did not pack up and immediately head to Lazarus. He waited. Finally, he went to see Mary and Martha. He grieved with them and felt their pain. Jesus then went to see Lazarus and he raised him from the dead. Why did Jesus wait? Why did it take him so long to see his friend? Because of faith. It increased the faith of those who would doubt him. Not necessarily the sisters, but anyone who had seen or knew of Lazarus’s death. How much stronger would their faith be when they saw Lazarus rise from the dead after multiple days rather than a few hours?
The trials and tribulations build our faith. It makes us stronger and makes our faith unwavering, allowing for God to use us for a greater purpose. If we have confidence in our God that He will always deliver, then nothing can stop you.
Finally, we must obey. Ughhhhhh this is the hardest one for me. I often will feel that nudge, that calling, and I want to ignore it. “But God it will be hard.” “But God, I don’t want to put myself out there.” All of these are thoughts that creep into my mind. However, God calls us to obey, and not partially obey, but fully and wholeheartedly obey.
In Acts, a couple is commanded to sell their land and share the earnings with the church. The couple sold their land, but on the side conspired to keep part of the funds for themselves. The husband went to deliver the funds and was asked, “how much did you make off the sale”? He responds with the amount he and his wife had discussed. Peter knew the amount of the sale and he knew the amount this man was saying was not true. The man dropped dead at that moment. The wife was then brought in and asked the same question. She provided the same response and dropped dead as well.
While this is a bit dramatic of a response, we are called to obey God. Not partially obey. Not give a little. Not listen to the first part. We are called to obey everything. Man this is hard. So hard. Giving up what you want is often part of that equation. However, the one thing I have learned is that whenever God takes away or commands something of you, I can never in my wildest dreams imagine what he has in store on the other side. Not because it is bad but because it is so much greater.
The next time you feel you are unsure of your purpose and you are simply wandering from day to day, ask yourself “have I listened to God lately? Have I had faith in God lately? Have I obeyed God lately”? If you can’t answer yes to all of those, it is time to spend some time with the Lord.
