Living Out Your Passions and Purpose

When I was a little girl, I would get up on our kitchen countertop and “preach” to my parents about the love of God. Who knew that’s what I’d be doing when I grew up! Honestly, as a kid I had many other ideas of who I wanted to be. An Olympic gymnast was one, even though I couldn’t do a cartwheel. There was also a time when I was obsessed with the weather and wanted to be a weather reporter. That career wasn’t all I thought about, but it was my go-to response whenever an adult asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up. Looking back, it seems obvious what I would end up doing, considering the person I’ve always been. But my confidence had to mature, as did I.

Genesis is the story of the beginning of everything, of how God created the heavens and the earth. From the start, He had a master plan for how it would all work together. In His love for us, He also had plans for how we needed to live and work as the caretakers of it all. We weren’t created as blank slates—God wove individual passions (desires), purpose (a reason), and abilities (skills) into our beings so we could live out our uniqueness in relationship with Him and each other.

Our verses for today are clear about how we’re supposed to live. There are many things we have no control over, so we shouldn’t sit “watching the wind.” I hear a lot of people use the term waiting season. But if we are not careful, our “waiting” can end up looking a lot more like “watching the wind” (v. 4).

Consider this: God has something for us to do even in the waiting! We need to pay attention to our responsibilities and do the work that’s in front of us. And tomorrow? It’s in God’s hands. If we ask Him to direct us in living out the passions and the purpose He’s placed inside us, we can trust He will do just that. He will lead us to open doors of possibility that we can then walk through. And as those passions become more alive, we will simultaneously be able to fulfill our purpose. And according to Scripture, our purpose is to:

• love God (Matthew 22:37)
• love others (Matthew 22:39)
• become like Christ (Philippians 2:5–11)
• tell others about Him (Matthew 28:19–20)
• do good works (Ephesians 2:10)

When you were a kid, maybe you weren’t so sure about who you wanted to be and what you wanted to do. Maybe you’re still not so sure. But never doubt that you were made with unique passions and created on purpose with a purpose in God’s master plan. So get on with your life! There are some mysteries you’ll never understand. Go to work in the morning and stick with it until evening without watching the clock. After all, you never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end.

Find Your Way

Waiting can be so challenging. I mean, think about it. Who likes a waiting room? Typically, a waiting room—like at a doctor’s office—is where you do useless things as you wait your turn to be seen. Maybe you spend the time reading a magazine, scrolling your phone, looking at the clock, or getting frustrated that you’ve been waiting so long. The current season of your life might feel like that. You’re not where you want to be, and it seems like a waste of time. But, friend, there is not one season of your life that is a waste of time. Every era of your life has a purpose behind it. What God is doing in you right now will impact what

He does through you later. Ask Him to change your perspective so you can see purpose in the places and spaces you’re in right now.

Prayer

Jesus, it can be so easy to get confused. Please help me keep my eyes on You and the work You’ve put in front of me today. Help me to love You, love others, become more like You and tell others about You, and continue to live and work for You as I put tomorrow in Your hands. Amen.