The wrestle.
The angst.
The deep search for IT.
“What am I supposed to do?”
The desire to find the zone – the sweet spot – the place you’re meant to be to accomplish what you’re put on this earth to do is a nagging one.
Have you ever felt that itch of discomfort? You know, the one that keeps you distracted and discontented? It’s reminds you that what you’re doing now isn’t what you’re “supposed” to be doing. It keeps you in a perpetual state of comparison, disappointment, and impatience. If you’re in this place in your life, I want to say this…..
STOP LOOKING FOR IT! Stop waiting for the heavens to part and the yellow brick road of your calling that leads to the emerald city of your purpose to appear. We spend our time dabbling in this or that, starting and stopping all kinds of things waiting for something to click. We become the great detective looking over here and over there. I’m here to tell you, your calling isn’t over there.
STOP LOOKING AT THEM! Too often we get stuck looking around at others who are “fulfilling their calling” and we think, if only we could find that for ourselves, then we’d be really living. If you’re looking around wishing you could do what they’re doing, I’m here to tell you that you are not going to do what they are doing.
STOP LOOKING AT YOURSELF! We love to assess ourselves or be evaluated and hold on tight to the results as a prescription for our future. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the tests: Enneagram, Meyers Briggs, DISC, Strength Finders, SDI, you name it, I’ve taken it. There is huge value to learning about your personality but that’s not where you find your calling and purpose!
Don’t you think that the WIN for the enemy is to convince you that you’re on the sidelines? To get you to believe that you aren’t useful until that fateful day when your purpose is found? The tactic is to distract you and confuse you. To keep you looking everywhere else but where you are. When you sit and stare at those around you and twiddle your thumbs with self-pity you are buying the lie that you are useless.
Let me tell you the truth. God isn’t waiting on you to find your purpose. He isn’t limited because you haven’t been given a job, a chance, or a platform. The Lord isn’t waiting around for everything to align so you can really be productive.
What all of this does is breed resentment for the place you are right now. And the place you are right now NEEDS YOU. And contrary to popular belief, YOU NEED the palace you’re in. It’s so easy to look to the future and resent the now. But God doesn’t waste anything. What you are learning and experiencing right now is all intended to help you succeed in the future.
I’ve been there! I know all too well the angst of WHAT?! WHERE? WHEN?!
Your calling isn’t over there – it’s right here, right now.
Your calling isn’t what they are doing – you’re going to do what YOU’RE meant to do.
Your calling isn’t in you – it’s a gift from the Lord. Look to him and find everything you need.
Your purpose doesn’t begin at the strike of midnight. When you stop LOOKING for it and start DOING whatever is right in front of you with all the passion, commitment and love you have to give, then you will be LIVING it.
God wants to take you deeper, higher, and farther than you can imagine. Trust that that is the plan and in the meantime make this your goal,
Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.
Colossians 3:23 TPT
When you stop looking for IT and start living out your love for God in everything you do, you’ll find the real YOU – and that is your true calling.
Joyfully,
Season
Amazing words for the season I currently am in. I hear God telling me what I am to do and trying to do so following the path I feel He has put in front of me to the point of even changing churches which was very hard to do. To my point, I feel I lack credibility to lead the Military Resilience Ministry other then my service and testimony. I have been told by others Pastors that the title of Pastor is just a title, a job, etc. and that what I’m doing is Pastoring. I’m having a hard time trying to understand my role and doing what I feel God has lead me to do by helping others that are as lost as I was from the military service by leading them to Christ for eternal life instead of taking their life with the cocktails of pills supplied by the VA. Any thoughts?
Jerry! I am so grateful that the Lord used me to encourage you. I am humbled you reached out. What I know to be true is that we are all called to love people and make disciples. No matter what the enemy says about your qualifications, or the voice of insecurity shouts in your ear, the Lord calls you to follow Him and he will lead you places and people you never imagined. Your job is to stay connected to the vine! Get your nutrients and strength from the Lord and bear fruit! The more we get hung up on the must haves and shoulds of the world the less we grow. Examine the feelings and the voices…do the fruit test – are they full of love, joy, peace, etc. Or are they dripping in condemnation, shame, comparison, disqualification. The Lord qualifies you, Jerry! With Him YOU CAN!