I Have A Purpose?

 

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

Psalm 57:2 

 

I was born a worrier.  I was always concerned about doing the right thing so I could find out the purpose God had for me.  I knew, from church, that God has a purpose for each of us and the sooner we were able to discern that purpose the better our life would be.  And so, I struggled trying to figure out how I could discern God's purpose for me.

 

Eventually, I just gave up and quit trying.  In fact, that's when my life became much less stressful because I quit caring.  I figured that if God actually had a purpose for me, He would have let me know so I wouldn't have wasted so many years messing up.  So I quit trying and quit caring.  Well, THAT didn't help me find my purpose either.

 

I figured God's purpose for me would be bringing HUGE numbers of people to Christ like Billy Graham.  Or perhaps pastoring one of those Mega Churches who have multiple "Campuses" and the sermon is broadcast to them.  I just KNEW God's purpose for me was going to make a giant difference!  Then I had a talk with one of my mentors, who loved me enough to be completely and brutally honest with me.  He reminded me that I am an introvert and that my personality was one of caring and empathy rather than outgoing and gregarious.  Honestly, that stung like a hive full of bees had been dropped on my head!

 

Then he took me to his shop and asked me to help him put his lawnmower engine back together.  Still steaming, I followed.  When we finished putting the engine back together, I noticed that we had one rubber gasket left over.  I told him about it and said it probably didn't matter if we left it out.  Then when he cranked up the motor, it didn't take long to realize that the one small gasket we had left out kept the oil from leaking out.

 

I love it when I can learn from the things of daily life.  My mentor told me that, though I may think of myself as just a small gasket, God still has an important part for me to play.  Then he reminded me that a single grain of sand that irritates and aggravates an oyster is turned into a beautiful pearl.  God may have a HUGELY public purpose for you, but His purpose for me is much more subtle.  God's purpose for me is to care, listen, love, and share....and to be honest, that's the perfect niche for me.  Ask God about your purpose!  You DO have a purpose, you know.