We’ve all been made for a purpose, right? But what is that purpose? What if we are very unhappy with that purpose? Let’s face it, sometimes we are discontent. I want to discuss that, but first let’s look at a few questions. These aren’t easy, and for some it takes a lifetime to discern and discover.
First, look around you. Are you happy with your purpose? Do you know why you’ve been created? Do you realize your life purpose?
Why are you here?
Are you sighing in contentment because everything is going well, or are you frustrated because nothing is going right–at least nothing you’d like to see done today? That is part of the problem. Our expectations are often way beyond what is possible in one day. I know this from experience.
On Monday, for example, I wanted to finish wrapping five presents, go to a local warehouse and buy some essentials, and read four papers my children have waiting for me to evaluate for Literature and History. At noon that day, I was set to host an episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms with two of the show hosts (Carol Topp & Meredith Curtis).
Instead, I had to cancel the show due to a family emergency.
Life happens. Well-laid plans get changed. Reality sets in and we need to adjust.
My youngest grandson caught his hand in a window and was rushed to the hospital. (Miraculously, only stitches and no broken bones–thank you, Jesus!)
Instead of my plans, I had four grandkids at my house all day with lots of energy!
They helped me wrap some presents (you should see them!) and that was the only thing that was on the “list” that was completed that day. I cancelled the radio show (thank you Meredith and Carol for being so understanding) and we baked cookies, played outdoors, and had a blast. We had lunch and cleaned up, did a craft from a free Printable that had a Christmas theme, and watched part of a movie. No radio show. No shopping. No grading papers.
Life happens.
This holiday season, so many things are calling on my attention. These delays remind me that only the Lord is truly in control of my day. By giving it to Him each morning I’m freed from what I have to do and understand that only what He wants to see done will be complete.
Why was I content on Monday? Because I didn’t have time to be discontent. I had so much more to do than was on my list, but then, we all do. We have those things that must get done as well as those we hope to complete. If we wallow in “what could have happened,” that is when discontent sets in. One day at a time!
I am here to serve, however the Lord wants me to serve this day. I am here to be available to my husband, my children, my extended family, or my grandchildren. The Lord has given me talents – and I will use them as I am able and as He directs. However, when I realize my time is HIS time I am freed from obligations and guilt. Stress is often self-imposed and comes from the time to think and worry. Giving my time to the Lord really is freeing!
Why are you here?
I will hopefully be here to listen to MJ’s night tonight. I am in the USA as the Lord called me from Africa to be here. Some days I see my purpose but others I still think there is a greater purpose behind why I was moved here. I have a terrific family and even though times are hard we keep on going. I don’t know how some days I even get out of bed but there is so much more to be thankful for this year than before. I am here to rise early to cook for my hubby and help encourage him before he leaves to work in frigid temps whilst finding cancer. I am here to care for my boys and teach them about life and then educate them too. I am here to be a friend to those who need an ear to listen and I am here best of all to worship my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is the reason I came to the USA and He is the reason I celebrate Christmas. I’m thankful for joy that can lodge deep down inside my heart and soul even though each week seems to get harder and more issues are coming up. Praise the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me Bless His Holy Name. Hallelujah – Christ is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords., in EVERY season of life.
I have struggled with my purpose. I think it is first as a mom. I want to help my kids find their purposes sooner than I found mine – and to be content and grateful for it and all things! I’ve wasted too much time grumbling and complaining and running from God. And in that I learned that I want to guide my children to find their gifts, talents, purposes sooner rather than later! Right now, my mission is motherhood, homeschooling, being a wife at home. I occasionally have incredible opportunities through blogging and my essential oils business, but they take priority only after mothering and homeschooling and marriage are cared for well.
I’ve noticed that as time goes on, my purpose changes according to what the Lord has in store for me at that point in my life. I think it helps me to grow and learn and be all that God intends for me to be. I’m glad that HE is in charge. 😉
Encouragement, inspiration & sisterhood with my fellow Christ-following mamas!
I really enjoyed this blog post! I needed to read this. I am a homeschooling mama of three amazing children (ages 13, 12, and 9) as well as being in my final semester as a college student myself. Sometimes it seems like it is impossible to juggle it all and my husband often reminds me to keep things in perspective. Thank you so much for your reminder as well!
Thank you for sharing.
I’m here to listen to this show – it’s new to me! I look forward to the encouragement!
This year we are bringing the birth of our Lord more to the front than ever before. We always have but due to financial problems we have agreed being together and being a family is the most important thing of all. When we received the word that a 13 yr old teen boy had gone to Heaven this past week, we were reminded we NEVER know when the last breath may be taken on this earth. So, this year it is around the Babe of Bethlehem that we worship and thank Him for going to the cross and rising again, so we one day can be with Him.
The information/shows that you offer look great, but being a busy homeschool mom, I can’t always get online at the times that the shows are being offered. I wish that more shows were offered at whatever time we are available to listen to them.
Oh, Joann – I hear you! And, yes they are all available later in the archives. Some of the shows require edits so it takes a bit longer to get those up! Thanks for coming and listening.
It’s difficult sometimes to put aside my plans, but I am learning that flexibility is part of life and I have a responsibility to teach my children to be flexible when The Lord has plans for us that are different from our own.
I’m here to love. Sometimes it gets tricky prioritizing or difficult battling my selfishness but I know that if I live a life of love, all other things will be fine. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Leah, we all struggle, thanks for being transparent.
Yesterday, I was in the midst of getting my to-do list done when I received a phone call from someone who really needed help. We dropped what we were doing to help a person in need. In the past, I would have had a hard time with just dropping everything and heading over, but the Lord has been working on me. I am here to have a servant’s heart. While normally that means taking care of my family and friends, it also means stepping outside of my comfort zone to help others in need as well.
I hear you, Heather! Having a servant’s heart does not come naturally to me but I find I am so blessed whenever I do give my time to the Lord. Hope you were blessed as well.
I am here to share my gifts and talents with others, to love and nurture my children, to walk with my father, and to love and cherish my husband. I am here to love and be loved, to share and to give, and to learn.
Love that Jaynessa!
What a GREAT post, and I can’t tell you how amazingly I was blessed by last night’s show. It really caused me to stop and take a moment to reflect on what I’m doing, and why. Thank you so much for these great programs!!
I’m here to love, worship and serve Jesus, and one way to do that is by being the wife and mom He called me to be. Simple for me to understand, harder for me to truly grasp at the deepest level.
What a lovely post and lovely thoughts. I have often wondered the same exact things. I guess I’m here first and foremost to glorify God and after that would be to teach all those around me about Him.
It seems that different days bring different callings. First and foremost, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m here to make a difference in the life of my husband and kids. We have 4 kids that were all adopted from bad situations. 2 of them are still in the midst of dealing with lots of grief and loss. I’m here to help them heal and learn to be part of a family. I’m also here to serve other adoptive families…whether it’s giving them a shoulder to cry on or mentoring them. Last but not least, I’m here to serve my clients. I’m a social media consultant and I also run several blogs and I love helping moms and corporations reach their potential clients. I’m busy and life is crazy, but I love it!
Really puts things in perspective when we know our first calling is our family! Thanks to you and your husband, Lisa, for giving your kids a wonderful life and being such an example to us all.
All I *know* is that I was created to bring glory to God. So, now, just to figure out how he wants me to do that!
To be the best mother I can be. Thanks for the chance!
I am here for my family and friends. I am here to be a positive role model in the lives of the children I have the privilege to work with.
Great post!!!
I struggled with my purpose for years. God kept telling me he had a higher calling, but I continued to fight Him. Sometimes I still do. Thank you for sharing what is on your heart and blessing so many of us.
We all continue to grow, Steph! Thanks for sharing your struggles with me.
My purpose is to raise my kids up in the Lord.
Thanks for this post — I needed this reminder. Will be mulling this over for awhile….
I’m here to serve and glorify God. Thank you for your programs! I have been blessed!
Tough one to answer. I usually do fairly well with the changes in plans (only a small bit of grumbling if I do). It’s the time after you’ve been in survival mode — that figuring out of the new normal and routine that I struggle to get through. I think (hope?) feeling more sure of my purpose will make those restarts easier. I *know* my purpose and priorities but sometimes I need reminding.
It used to really bother me that I was wasting a master’s degree in special education to teach my kids at home, how silly is that?
But I also realized that it was indicative of a general attitude of telling God how I wanted to serve him instead of seeing where he is at work and joining him in that work.
I hear you Cathleen – but what better reward is there than seeing how the Lord uses our talents for HIS works – not ours. Thanks for sharing.
Life is tough sometime , and our purpose can be even tough– Thank you Jesus for our being here-and having all that we do have. Some days are depressing, then I have to kick my own bottom, and get back on tack, because I am not doing myself any good ,let alone anyone here.Home schooling the kids can sometimes, lead down a path that I hadn’t planned on for that day, but you know I really love it. To watch the light bulb turn on and I explain the information that they understood it and we accomplished our goal. I hope before I leave this earth I will understand my purpose, but if not–it will be ok, as long as I am doing Gods will and wants
Well said, Dianna … “to watch the light bulb turn on …” don’t we all just love when that happens! Also the greatest blessing to me is to have my adult children tell me they are going to homeschool – and my daughter does homeschool her little ones! What a legacy!!
Needed to hear this. Thank you for the blessing!
Thank you,
Thank you for this post. I often feel so overwhelmed about things not going as planned. It’s refreshing to hear I’m not the only one who has things happen and has to roll with it.
Thank you so much for this, it is good to think about!
I am here each and every day to be available to His interruptions 🙂
I am here to learn. I’ve learned so much in 40 years and hopefully, I will have at least 40 more years to keep learning. I don’t strive to be perfect, but to improve daily. And I’m here to help others, in only a way that I can.
You know I have been in a hiccup lately. I said it like that as you mentioned “life happens”. Well I am in a place right now that I never thought that I would be in – but that is ok. I have realized that in the “place” that I had been at, perhaps I had gotten a bit complacent about particular life’s issues. Although I never thought I would be here again, it has awakened my dependence upon God, in a good way. My first goal is to help my last child graduate this next year. I have sort of been laying low, so to say, so I can be there during these last two years of his schooling, and in the midst of that working part time jobs to be able to be available. So these past few months one of the jobs ended and I have been praying about what it is that God would want me to do. . . . . I am in an ok place, as long as I keep my thinking on the right end of things. So in the midst of that I realize that many times we are spoiled in the sense that we pretty much do what we want and don’t always pray about it first. A plan that I was wanting to follow through on just did not fall in place and, of course I was disappointed, but it was in that process that I realized that I hadn’t prayed about it – so then I started evaluating things. . . .. more so, me. In the process of doing that I was reading The Shack and then came to the hurdle when he is back in the shack and started reading Francine River’s book Redeeming Love. Oh my gosh, talk about going through and evaluating things. . . . . but I truly am thankful that God has brought me through this aspect of it. I thought that I supposedly had it altogether and then in the process my life gets turned upside down, changing dramatically —–BUT God has been so good to me, and has placed good people around me.
I will pray for you Vickie. Count on it. I will pray the Lord blesses you for pouring into your child as the years go by quickly! And I will pray that God’s best takes you by surprise and he provides the PERFECT job for you! Christ’s blessings and Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the reminder to not only take one day at a time but to give each and everyone to God to be used for His purposes. My purpose is to let Him live thru me in order for me to live life to the fullest.
This is a great post and a much needed reminder. I find that beginning the day with thanksgiving helps me remember how blessed I am and how precious the time is that I have to spend with my family.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Michele!
I am here to glorify my Lord and to grow His kingdom. Thank you for the beautiful reminder that I need to let Him direct my days, not my holiday list of things that need to be ticked off. Merry Christmas!
This post was encouraging and challenging. I’m compelled to pray about this topic and gain more clarity about purpose. Thank you for the post.
Thanks for the radio programs, I do not always get to listen but I appreciate the ones I do get to listen to. They have helped since I am a new homeschool mom.
I am here for encouragement.
I am always so blessed by what you offer Felice, the topics and your speakers are top notch, and I am never surprised by how God will speak to me each time through your guests. You are doing a wonderful thing here and I pray it prospers and continues to bless many many others. <3
Oh, Tricia – thanks, some days it gets very hectic around here and I am thankful for sweet words like yours! I will continue to pray you are blessed!!
Thank You
I am here to serve and to raise my children in the love and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I am not yet sure what my purpose is other than to be a faithful mom and wife. I feel that God has a plan for me, but I am not exactly sure what it is yet. I am waiting for Him to nudge me in the right direction until then I am trying to raise my daughter to love, trust, and serve God. This was a wonderful post and I appreciate the realness and honesty.
This post feels as though it comes directly from my own heart and mind. So much stress all the time- yet, why? Do I really need to have the “perfectly” decorated home for the family, and homemade gifts for everyone? It is an impossible task that my mind battles with constantly till there is no more energy left for what is really important. I believe that I look for acceptance and love in accomplishing everything, but know that God loves me just how I am. What a good reminder, and one that needs to be written in front of me at all times, I think! 🙂
Ah, so someone feels the same way I do! Yes, God loves you Kelly – remember that – and all the rest is fluff!
I am here to glorify God in all I do. Right now that means as a Wife, Mom. Worship leader and Business owner.
Some days I forget this, but my whole purpose here is to glorify God in all I do. That includes being a living wife and mother. Taking care of my home and homeschooling my children. I have days that I tend to forget, but then, I am reminded of all God has done for me and what I need to be doing. 🙂
Thank you, this was an encouragement and needed reminder! I have many responsibilities, but ultimately my purpose is to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ, worshipping Him, raising my children to know Him and supporting my husband.
I’m a wife, mother, teacher, writer, & more. My purpose is to have everything I do exemplify God’s Love. Still working on that!
I am still trying to find my purpose.
I’ve been *really* struggling with this the last few years. After growing up thinking I needed to prove people wrong about my gender, ethnicity and background by being very successful in this life I came to realize that my place was at home with my children. I had to change so many deeply ingrained thoughts, behaviors and attitudes. I never got it all down but I gave it my best. A few years ago I felt like I was shoved out of my home back in to the workplace and I was so lost. My children acquired very bad habits and so did I. Not to mention my attitude. Thankfully I was able to come back home less than a year later but I had allowed a lot of bad influences in during that time. Since then we’ve added another beautiful baby to our home but I still haven’t been able to get it together. I suspect I’ve been dealing with some post postpartum depression on top of it all. I’ve subscribed so some blogs, yours being one of them, to try to get myself in gear. It’s coming very slowly but I think I may be heading uphill again. Thank you for this article. Every bit of truth helps.
Why am I here you ask? For me, that’s a loaded question and could take longer than you would really want to read to have my complete answer! I believe I was sent here to receive a body for my spirit first. Next, I was sent here to learn and there are a lot of things I needed to learn! In fact, I’m still learning and will continue to learn throughout my life. To start, a general education to begin with, but from there I feel that I was sent here to find and learn about faith, hope, and charity. Then, there’s patience, kindness, and love for both my family and my fellow man. I also believe I was sent here to learn about love too. Love for my Heavenly Father, my parents, spouse, and children, but also love for those around me and for the environment too. I’m also here to teach all these things to my children and help them learn about them as well as I can at the same time too, all with the guidance of prayer, scriptures, and my church family. I believe all of us were sent here to learn from the lessons that are given us throughout our lives. Through the laughter and the hardships, the people we meet, and the people we love. Each and every person who we interact with changes us from the person we were, to the person we become. We will be here for however short or long a period our Heavenly Father has already decided, once we have learned what we were sent here to learn. After all, what’s left for us to do if we stop learning?
I am here to be a helpmeet to my husband and to raise my children for the Lord. Some days it’s really hard to remember that!
I believe i am here to love and cherish my family, friends and God. He has placed his faith in the human race and I want to make him proud.
I need to be reminded of my purpose daily, as I get discouraged so easily lately. I need to be setting goals and journaling so I can see my progress over the long term. Thank you!