Goodness Gracious: 14 Unfiltered Devotions for This Sometimes-Too-Serious LifeSample

Jenny Knows Best

"Yet not my will, but Yours be done." LUKE 22:42

There’s always that one opinionated friend who has zero problem speaking her mind. For me, that’s Jenny. She’s embarrassingly honest, incredibly funny, and severely loyal; a combination that makes her charming enough to keep around. One day I was telling her about a new job I started, one completely different than anything I did before. After trying to convince her of my new “life purpose,” she said this:

“I mean, it’s just not what I envisioned you doing. But hey, I’m happy for you!”

Her response annoyed the fire out of me, and I just chocked it up as her being a little hater. However, after years of really high highs and really low lows with this particular job, I found myself burnt out, frustrated, and completely lost. It hit me—“Dadgummit, Jenny was right. I actually hate this. What in tarnation am I going to do now?” Once I surrendered my career path to the Lord and stopped trying to force a purpose that simply wasn’t for me, everything changed.

If you’ve also found yourself in a season where you’re floundering, lost, or feeling flat-out unfulfilled, implement these five things:

Read God’s Word daily. When you understand who He says you are, it will bring you an overwhelming amount of clarity and confidence.

Ask God what His purpose is for your life. It truly is that simple. If you seek Him, you will find Him and in turn you’ll find yourself again.

Remember, reevaluate, and refocus. Go back to your roots. Pinpoint your passions again. God didn’t give you desires and dreams and gifts just for fun, He intended for you to live them out.

Talk to the Jennys in your life. Seek wisdom from those who know you and love you. If you’re having a hard time identifying your gifts, ask them what they believe you’re good at. Their answers might surprise you.

Operate in your giftings. Be obedient in this way. Realign your life with God’s will rather than trying to force your own will upon God.

The Lord’s plan for you is to be a vessel. Only you can do what He created you to do. Never underestimate that!

God, I want to fulfill Your purpose for my life. Help me live that out today. Amen.