Keys to Finding Your Purpose
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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. - Ephesians 2:10
Get Curious
Having launched our fourth child into college, I was facing an empty nest in a few years. Though I was sad to see this season of active parenting end, I was eager to focus on myself. I was excited to dream. Questions swirled through my mind:
What could I do now?
What am I good at?
What have I always wanted to do?
What lights me on fire?
Scrolling through Facebook one day I came across an ad for Hope*writers, an online community of writers. The word hope inspired me. I had been journaling for decades, but I had never written publicly. I knew I was good at encouraging others. Isn’t writing simply encouraging others with words? I had a twenty year old dream to write a book. Everytime I spoke at churches or women’s events, people would say, “When are you going to write a book?” I kept saying, “One day I will.”
I was a Mass Communications/Speech Communication double major in college, so I was passionate about speaking. I feel most alive on stage. I got to thinking, I know absolutely nothing about writing a book;I better learn. I joined Hope*writers with a dream in my heart and a backpack full of fears. I didn’t know anything about writing, and I struggled with technology. Every task felt insurmountable, but I felt this nudge from God to pursue my dream of writing a book and so I began my writing journey.
Now What?
We will all come to the day where we’ll ask ourselves, what do I do now that my kids are grown? What is my purpose in this season of motherhood? We can languish in despair or we can follow the passion inside. We can pursue the activity that lights our hearts on fire. We can dust off our dreams and get busy.
Long ago, God was thinking of you. Before you were created He placed certain abilities, giftings, and passions inside of you that made you distinctively YOU. When He formed you, He also placed a calling over your life. He had plans for you based on this calling. He had assignments prearranged. Now is the time to step into them. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” - Ephesians 2:10.
According to Life Breakthrough Coaching Academy, “When He created you, He placed a calling on your life. We have lots of names for calling: destiny, purpose, assignment, dream, meaning, ‘your why.’ Your ‘why’ is your reason for being and your ‘how’ is the expression of doing it. We only have one ‘why’ or theme during our lifetime but we have limitless ways to express it or function in it. You will never lose your ‘why,’ but you can certainly lose your ‘how’ or a function.”
You will always be a mother, but your parenting is a function that will shift, but your calling remains. It’s normal for your “how” to change. This is the time to embrace a new “how!”
You have days ahead without the pressure of tending to your children’s needs.You have a renewed freedom and the ability to dig deep inside and see what God has for you. You have wisdom, experience, and talent. It’s time to “go for it”, momma!
How can you find your purpose?
1. Get curious:
Do you see yourself as a curious person? When you begin to ask questions, you can unravel the mystery of your life and calling. You can easily discover your purpose when you reflect by asking yourselves these questions:
What are my talents or natural abilities?
What are you most effective at doing?
What in your life do you sense that God has blessed?
What do you want to do more often?
What makes you feel fully alive?
What lights you up inside?
What places in life or things in life make you say “I was made for this?”
2. Pay attention to your strengths:
You have strengths and skills that God placed inside of you, and they will always point to your purpose. The beauty about purpose is it is defined by what comes naturally. If it's hard or frustrating, you can step away; it’s not your strength. What comes easily for you? Are you good with people? Are you a skilled thinker? Do you have a unique set of abilities? Is there a topic that you could talk about forever with no notes? This is your strength. Lean in and follow those strengths and there you will identify your purpose.
3. Pray for discernment:
Because God created you, you surely want to hear His voice guiding you to His best plans for you. This will require you to spend time in prayer, listening for God’s direction. He formed you, so He knows best what good plans He has for this season of your life. He is not done. It is not over. He might lead you to the most fulfilling assignment you’ve ever had. Lean in, spend time with Him, then obey what He asks you to do. His voice will always lead to His goodness.
4. Manage Your Limiting Beliefs:
You will want to convince yourself that this fresh assignment is too hard. You will come up with a plethora of excuses and reasons not to step into your purpose. This will keep you from fulfillment. Instead of bowing to fear or insecurity, you step out in faith, trust that if God called you to it, He will equip you for it. It’s all within you. You simply need to manage your doubts. This might be the hardest part of your assignment.
We all step on the threshold of something new when our children become adults. This can feel unsettling, but when we get curious, pay attention to our strengths, find discernment from God and manage our doubts, we’ll find our purpose. These can be the happiest years of your life.
Let’s pray.
Dear Papa, I stand on the threshold of something new and I’m a little scared. Help me get curious and understand my strengths. Help me lean into You for discernment. Give me strength to obey Your voice and calm the doubts within me so I can pursue my purpose in this season of my life. Amen.
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