Watching and waiting for God to direct your life and give you a purpose is something most young Christians mull over and contemplate. We grow up in a world of busy people and cars chasing dreams and desires. We are being molded by out surroundings and by God into the adult we are soon to become. The opportunities seem endless. Fires begin to burn in our hearts with different desires for different lives, but everyone still has a vision of their future, whether it’s practical or impractical. But the question still remains…What is my purpose?
A purpose and a gift are very different. One can be born with a talent for the arts and an ear for music, but their purpose could be totally different than their gift. That same person who has the hand of Picasso and the ear of Bach may have a love for animals and their purpose is not to bring artistic pleasure to the world, but to care for the creatures of this planet. I’ve come to realize God has wired each one of our cores with certain instincts and desires that didn’t have to be nurtured or matured they were born with us. Certain things about each individual that wasn’t human taught, but God blessed. Something that has followed us all our days that runs deep in our hearts and soul. I bet there is a Theological word or explanation for this, but it’s 11:31pm at night and I will have to research. ok that was a side note.
People can grow to love sports and grow to love cooking etc. but that is not what I am talking about. Yes, God’s purpose for someone may be a sports coach or a pro athlete, but that desire and that dream is wired to something else, something that drew you to that occupation or job. Something that brought you to that lifestyle. and today it hit me like a bag of sand, mine is service.
Since I was a baby my greatest joy has been to give. My love language is acts of service and for me to serve someone it was the greatest love I could give. At the age of 5 I used to wash my sisters feet as she watched tv, I would follow her around and if she needed anything I would have given her the clothes off my back. I used to cry and get mad at my parents when they would drive past a homeless man and not give him food because my heart was breaking. I wanted to be involved in helping and the healing, but as a child I was very shy and didn’t speak up much, but the world was a wound and all I wanted to do was stop the bleeding wherever I could. Into my teenage years my friends and I would discuss our dreams and what we wanted our future to look like. I had ideas out the whazoo, but no matter what my greatest desire was live a life of little materials and more adventure and spreading the word of God to the world. All I wanted to do was give up my time and serve my Lord, but I still didnt know my purpose. I hadn’t put the pieces together, I hadn’t realized that that was my purpose.
I sat at my kitchen counter today talking to my mom about life and people and my future. As I was talking it clicked, I knew my purpose. I knew what I was meant to do. I was meant to give and serve. No matter if that is spending a little extra time with people or selling my stuff and going to rebuild a country, I must serve, for it brings me the greatest joy I have ever felt. People talk about what makes them feel closest to God, whether that’s alone time with him or worshipping or even spending time with people, mine is giving away to others. That gift of service and that desire was never developed, it was one of the few core gifts God instilled into me when I was created and this was the one chosen for pave my path.
I was shocked it took me this long to realize my purpose and my drive, but it was there all along. It doesn’t surprise me I chose the World Race. I followed my heart and I followed God and it lead me here.
God could have Motherhood in my future, he could have me imprisoned in another country, I could be an attorney in LA but, no matter what I will always be in service of someone or something giving away all I can for the good of another, for that is truly my love and my purpose.
