We’ve all been there. Feeling stuck in a new season of life, not understanding our why and not feeling fulfilled. I’ve been there a couple of times in the past 10 years. It’s not a fun place to be in because as a Christian you’re often told that “you have a gift” and “God has a plan for your life” but when you don’t know what that plan is, you begin to feel out of place and confused. If this is you now, I get it. I want you to know that it’s not just you and that what you’ve been told about your gifts and His plans for you are true. If I’m being completely transparent, out of all the times I’ve been there I’m just now grasping what it feels like to be on the other side. And, boy is it freeing and completely worth all of the tears and prayers. So to encourage you, here are a couple of signs that helped me know I was walking in my God-given purpose.
I was bearing good fruit
Apple trees were created for the purpose of bearing apple fruit. Lemon trees were created for the purpose of bearing lemons. This sounds so obvious but when you think about it, just as God gave these things purpose He gave you a purpose here on Earth as well. When we tap into our God-given purpose, we begin to bear good fruit.
It’s important to stop and ask yourself: what is coming out of the things I’m doing? Through evaluating the fruit you’re bearing, you can assess whether or not you’re walking in your God-given purpose.
God’s grace and provision followed me throughout my journey
God is so faithful. If only I had a dollar for how many times I say that throughout the day LOL. But I say it so much because it’s so true! In all seasons, He’s faithful. Whether it’s through a closed door or an open door, He’s faithful. This is a theme that’s been heavy on my heart lately and I shared a little bit about it on my last quick thoughts blog post.
Once I stepped into my God-given purpose, His provisions were even clearer. How did I know I was where I was supposed to be? Doors that I wasn’t qualified for were open. Why? Because He’s faithful. He’s faithful to your obedience and faithful to your yes.
I asked Him
One of my favorite things about having a relationship with God is that it’s transparent. Gosh, I’m so thankful He tore the veil and we are able to have open communication with Him. My husband always gives me a hard time because I can be super inquisitive at times. I like to know what’s going on and in my opinion, the more knowledge you have the better. When I wasn’t sure what my God-given purpose was, I was frustrated and complacent. I knew God put me here for a reason but I hated that the reason wasn’t clear. So I asked Him. It’s funny because asking Him sounds so simple, but ignorantly it was my last resort.
He’s here for you too and He hears your prayers. If you’re unsure what He has for you, ask and seek Him.
It pointed me to Him not myself
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
In asking Him to help me discover my God-given purpose, I began to notice that His desire of my life aligned with His. No matter what your purpose is, you should see Him in it. This is why it’s important to find a purpose that’s given by Him. In reality, no matter what our purpose is we all pretty much have the same goal. To love God and love His people. It’s what Christ called the most important commandment.
I found peace in His voice over the voice of others
I can at times be a people pleaser. It’s technically a gift because it allows me to be super compassionate to the needs of others, but if I’m not careful I can lose focus on my why. When I began stepping into my purpose, there was no denying my desire to do the things He’s called me to. The more I pressed into Him, the less I cared about fitting the mold of what the world thought. Walking into your God-given purpose is a beautiful thing but it’s not necessarily the easiest. Great are the afflictions of the righteous. The last thing the enemy wants is for you to advance the purpose of God, so naturally, attacks will come. This is why it is essential for you to cling to His word once you begin stepping into your God-given purpose.
When you hear from Him and receive your assignment, write it down! Put it in a visible point of focus, where you can read it often. Because once you hear from God, expect the opposing voices to come. Those voices want to pull you away from the voice of God. They want to destroy the peace that came with His instructions and cause confusion.
It didn’t require my strength
This is probably one of my favorite verses ever. It’s a sweet reminder that I don’t have to fit a certain mold in order for God to use me. In fact, in order to walk in your God-given purpose all you need is a willing and open heart to His instructions.
Think about it. Paul was chosen to become a major instrument in bringing souls to Christ while He was persecuting the very souls he would eventually preach to. Once he repented, He still had something holding him back. While the Bible never specifies what that “thorn” exactly is, we know that God tells him that He will still use him despite his thorn. God’s power works best in weakness.
While walking in my God-given purpose, I’ve been able to do things beyond my ability. Why? Because His power has carried me beyond what I could fathom. I gave Him my yes and He gave me His best.
I listened to the voices of those close to me
As if I haven’t said this enough this year, we aren’t meant to do life alone. I talked about asking God what my purpose was when I was feeling “stuck” but what I didn’t mention was how He used the voice of a couple of people close to me to confirm His instructions. I’m not even sure that those people knew God was using them but He did. On 3 separate and completely unrelated moments, my husband, mom, and cousin said something to me pertaining to my purpose completely unprompted.
Also, along with asking Him, you should seek godly-counseling from those you trust. According to how close they are to you, they may be able to point out certain strengths you may be overlooking. The people in your life have been placed in your life for a reason. Love on them and consult them.
If you haven’t found your God-given purpose yet because this is all new to you or because God has you transitioning in a new season, I want you to know I’m praying for you. Keep pressing into Him during this season and trust that He has a purpose and plan for your life. Don’t allow the pressures of the world or what others are doing to distract you. Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. So, turn your heart to Him alone and keep shining!
XO
Michelle
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