By Allen White
Rick Warren says, “You can live a week
without food. You can live a day without water. You can live five minutes
without oxygen. But, you can’t live a second without hope.”
God created each of us for a purpose. I
believe Rick Warren also had a few things to say about that. We have all been
wired for a specific mission God planned for us long ago.
When we operate in line with that
mission, we find a life-giving flow of energy, creativity, excitement and joy.
When we operate outside of our mission, we find ourselves tired, unmotivated
and certainly not loving every minute of it.
Don’t get me wrong. No one has a
problem-free life. Jesus told us, “In this world, you will have trouble” (John
16:33). He wasn’t kidding. But, as Laura Story puts it so well, what if the
trials of this life are “His blessings in disguise?”
Our problems are our teachers, and
there are some days I want to skip school. But, trouble deepens our dependence
on God and strengthens our character as a result.
But, if we don’t hope things will
improve or that our present sacrifice will lead to a brighter future, life is
rather defeating. If in following our mission we encounter trouble, we might
take it a little more in stride. It goes with the territory. But, if we’re
uncertain of our purpose, trouble can be devastating.
What do you long for? Do you long to
fulfill God’s plan for your life, or do you long for some new toy? What
preoccupies your thoughts? Are you hoping another person will change so your
life can improve? Good luck with that.
The key to a satisfied life is aligning
what you do and how you do it with what God has designed for you to do. If
you’re not sure God has a mission for you at all, a course like Network or
SHAPE or PLACE is a good way to start.
Please don’t misunderstand me. God
isn’t necessarily calling you to quite your day job and move to Africa – but He
might be. If you do meaningful work, then you just might have discovered your
God-given calling. But, if your work is not a love-to-do and more of a
have-to-do, you’re probably not operating in your sweet spot.
I know variety is the spice of life,
but monotony pays the bills. But, would life be better while we are doing work
we love every day, we also pay the bills? There is no greater feeling than
working hard at something that matters far beyond our ability or lifespan. It’s
doing God’s work.
What work has God called you to? If you
don’t know, then ask Him. If you are in a difficult work situation, then ask
God if you’re there for His purpose. He will give you insight into why you are
there. And, don’t be surprised if He uses a little trouble to motivate you in
the right direction.
God has a purpose for your life. You may
never be a pastor or preacher. You may never work at a church. But, God has a
plan uniquely suited to the gifts and abilities He has given you. Aligning with
your purpose will bring joy and hope to your life.
More from Allen
White: allenwhite.org
Facebook: Galatians419 Group
Twitter: @galatians419 @allenwhite
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