Finding purpose in your life is one of the hardest things to do. Whether you’re a Christian or a non-believer, deciding what to do for the rest of your life is exhausting and confusing. I have the answer…
There is no right answer, and it’s about time someone told you so. Do you already feel lighter? Good. Read on to feel your lightest.
You know that story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? There are children’s songs and cartoons and art….but those weren’t their REAL names. Their Hebrew names were Hanania “Yah (i.e., Yahweh) is gracious“, Mishael “Who is like God?” and Azariah “Yah has helped“. However, King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree required they be assigned Chaldean names, so Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach and Azariah became Abednego. It wasn’t who they were, but that’s what they were called.
And today, people still use their Chaldean names. But what is a title if it’s not the name GOD purposed for you? They purposed to follow what GOD wanted for their life versus what man told them it should be. We aren’t captive Jews in Babylon, but we are individuals who live in a world that constantly pressures us to prescribe to culture (the new thing, the latest craze) and LABELING us according to what THEY see.
Even Pastor’s prophecy (or “prophalie”) expectations over us, and we clamor to bring those words into fruition. We hone in on the character people suggest that we be and what we’d be good at. For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a teacher because people always said I was meant to teach. In what capacity? They never said. So, I endeavored to reach teacher status. When I finally reached it, it felt all wrong, so wrong that I lost a sense of self. If I’m not to teach, what am I to do?
Who am I? More importantly, who are you? Not what you’ve been told, not what people have prayed over you, not what you think you do (low self-esteem has kept people bound for a long time, too, totally different article), but what is it that you can live, breathe, do and BE for eternity? Start there. And you’ll find your purpose.