For years, I wondered what I was called here to do. I longed for a purpose. I longed to know the meaning of my life. And now, the Lord is unraveling it all for me. He’s showing me what He’s called me to do. He’s showing me why He’s called me to do it. And if I can be honest, it is overwhelming.
Purpose is an overwhelming call from God.
Why?
Because the purposes of God are always bigger than us. God calls us to do things for the greater good. He wants our lives to have an impact…drawing others closer to Him…bringing glory to His name.
Just think of the story of David as he faced Goliath. We don’t know how old David was exactly, but we do know that he was young and inexperienced, in contrast to Goliath, who was a giant and a Philistine champion.
David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem. (1 Samuel 17:14-15 NLT)
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:32-33 NLT)
Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield. (1 Samuel 17:4-7 NLT)
I don’t know about you, but I would say this call from God was overwhelming for David. Confident or not, he was given a task that seemed impossible, to benefit the greater good—the people of Israel in battle.
Now, I want to look at the story of Moses as he was called to lead the Israelites out of bondage. When God called him to return to Israel, all Moses could think about was that he was being called to do something that he was unqualified to do.
But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11 NLT)
This call from God was overwhelming for Moses. He couldn’t wrap his mind around why God would choose him to do something like this…but it was for the greater good…it was so that his people could finally be free.
The call of God is overwhelming, but He always prepares us first.
Let's jump back to David's story for a moment. When we continue to read about David and Goliath’s battle in 1 Samuel, we see that although David was facing an overwhelming battle, he was prepared by God.
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT)
This…is what I am most grateful for as I embark on this journey. Yes, God is calling me to do something overwhelming…yes He is calling me to do something new…but I am prepared for it. He has been training me as He trained David. I have spent years perfecting my craft and preparing for this journey. This may be a new mountain that I have to climb, but it’s not the first.
When God calls us, it’s for a reason.
I want us to revisit the call of Moses for a moment. Yes, he was called to do something overwhelming, but he was the perfect person to do it. Who better to face Pharaoh, than the man that grew up in the same household. You see, Moses knew exactly what he was walking into…he had a unique perspective…a perspective that no other Hebrew could have had.
God saved Moses as an infant for a reason. He called Moses to grow up away from his family for a reason.
God uses our misfortunes to prepare us for purpose.
This is where I want you to think of your own life. What have you been struggling with? Is there something you’ve been praying about…believing God for? Maybe you’ve been asking God to rescue you from a place…but you are still there…
Now, I want us to take a second to talk about the life of Joseph, son of Jacob. In the book of Genesis, we learn that through the calling of God, Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. But, I don’t want us to forget the misfortunes that Joseph endured to get there…
First, he was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Then, he was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison. He endured a fate that he didn’t deserve for over a decade…but when we read his story it is clear that it all led him straight to his purpose. In fact, Joseph's misfortunes prepared him for purpose.
If you haven’t read Joseph’s story yet, I want to encourage you to read it in its entirety. Yes, it is lengthy…but it is so worth it. In it, we see how God uses every trial that we face, to prepare us for the amazing purpose that lies ahead of us. We see that even when times are hard, and we don’t understand, our God is making a way out of no way.
God is always moving us towards purpose.
It may not feel like it right now, but your Father is moving you towards your purpose…towards the place that you’ve been believing for…the place that He has prepared for you.
Maybe you are reading this, and your response is that you’ve been trying. You’ve been waiting. You’ve been believing…but you have yet to experience the promises of God. If that’s the case, I want you to know that you are in good company. Consider that God is preparing you like He prepared David to defeat Goliath. Consider that God is favoring you, as He favored Moses when he was chosen to be the deliverer of Israel. Or maybe He is using every misfortune for your good, as He did in the life of Joseph. I don’t know what God is up to. But I do know that He is up to something.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
I know it feels like you’ve been waiting and waiting on God. But maybe your wait is purposeful. Maybe your purpose requires the type of patience you are gaining right now. Maybe your purpose requires the kind of strength that you are gaining right now. Maybe your purpose requires the kind of persistence you’re gaining right now. Your God is with you. He is for you. He will lead you to the place–the purpose– that He has for you. But allow Him to prepare you for it. Allow Him to give you everything that you need. Your heavenly Father is causing everything to work together for your good…so trust in Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that you are working everything together for my good. You are using every trial that I face. You are using every single misfortune. So God, I will trust in you. I will allow you to grow my strength. I will allow you to grow my patience. I will allow you to show me how to persist. I believe that you are with me. I believe that you are for me. And I believe that you are preparing me for purpose. I love you, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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