Jen’s Gem: Your calling is calling!

Over the last week or so, I have been listening to “The Power of Vision” audio by Dr. Myles Munroe during my early morning walks. I mentioned this powerful teaching in my blog last week, and I encouraged you to listen to it. I hope you did but if not, please do it today. It’s the best forty-five minutes you’ll spend. I promise.

While there are many points in this teaching that struck a chord with me, one in particular stood out. Every living thing is created with its purpose planted inside. Think about that.

An acorn’s purpose is to become an oak tree.
A caterpillar’s purpose is to become a butterfly.
A watermelon seed’s purpose is to become a watermelon.

How do they know this? How do these inanimate objects know what they are to be when they grow up? It’s in their DNA. The seed of each of these things knows exactly what to do. It’s been preplanned. 
An acorn is never going to become an apple tree. A caterpillar is never going to become a bird.  

A watermelon seed is never going to become a pony. In God’s infinite wisdom, He placed the purpose of every single thing He created inside. And that includes you and me. It especially includes you and me because He loves and values us more than any other creature He created.

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

When you were conceived, you were given a specific DNA combination. It’s unique. No one else has it. Unless you are an identical twin, of the billions of people who have ever lived, no one else has your DNA. Isn’t that mind-boggling?

So what does this mean? Every human being was designed with a unique purpose for their life. Each person was created for a specific job to do and was given talents, skills, and even personalities in order to carry out their purpose.  Many people know their purpose at an early age. “I always knew I’d be a doctor.” “I always knew I wanted to be a mother.”

“I always knew.”

What comes to mind when you hear this phrase? How did they know? Did someone tell them? Did they read it in a book? No. I don’t believe so.

And if these people “always knew,” why doesn’t everyone know? Why do some people figure it out so early and easily and so many struggle their whole lives trying to figure out why God put them on the earth? Are some meant to do great things and others are here just to take up space?

Absolutely not!  How do I know this? It’s written plainly in Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you.” God knows your plan! God does not create anything without a purpose. Look at Proverbs 19:21 below:

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

“But how do I find out what my purpose is?” Simple. Ask the One who created you. He knows.

And guess what? God wants YOU to know too! God did not create you to wander through your life saying, “Why was I born?” “Why am I here?” Remember, confusion is not from God. God is the opposite of confused. He’s crystal clear in everything He does.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

So what’s the problem then? Why are people walking around chasing after every Tom, Dick, and Harry trying to find out their life’s calling? Because they don’t know that their purpose is inside of them, not outside.

The acorn doesn’t ask the ant what it is supposed to be when it grows up. The caterpillar doesn’t ask the lion. The watermelon doesn’t ask the rose bush. They “ask” their Creator.

If you’re struggling to determine your life purpose, I encourage you to stop looking outside of yourself. You will never, ever, ever find it there. Believe me, I know. I’ve chased after more Tom’s, Dick’s, and Harry’s than I can count. While some were able to help me identify gifts and talents, none were able to tell me what I should do with them. None.

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5

If you’re searching for your life’s purpose, I’d like to encourage you this week to do two things. First, please listen to the audio by Dr. Miles. Then, go to a quiet place. And I mean quiet. No phone. No people. No music. No work. No nothing. Ask God to reveal your purpose to you. If you REALLY want to know, then ask, “God, why was I born?” “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?”

Then…just listen. If you don’t hear anything, keep listening. If you still don’t hear anything, keep listening. Rinse and repeat until you get an answer. It’s God’s desire for you to know.

Don’t give up.