Living With Purpose: Week 4

by January 22, 2017

Welcome to the series Living With Purpose in Every Season! If you missed the other posts in this series, you can find them here:

Week 1: Silent Seasons
Week 2: Seasons of Blessings
Week 3: Seasons to Stop

And now for WEEK 4: Seasons of Uncertainty

 

Some people just seem to know the direction for their life. For me, it is a constant learning curve. Just when I think I have it figured out, God seems to redirect me a different way. In some ways it’s exciting and other ways it brings frustration and a constant string of questions about my calling.

What next?
What now?
How long?
How much time do I wait?
When do I take a leap of faith?
When do I settle into my calling?
What is my purpose?

God is continually forming and shaping the direction of my life. I wish I could tell you that it’s been a crystal clear journey with a planned agenda.

I wish I could show you how I set goals, and crossed finish lines with flags waving in the breeze as I cross over to the side of completion.

But for me, God’s calling often looks like a tiny trembling step today, and a constant season of waiting for God’s direction for tomorrow.

The best way I can describe it is the way the Psalmist says it in Psalm 119:105.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

As I boarded the plane and settled into my seat, they dimmed the cabin lights. I reached for a book from my bag and tried to read but the light was too dim to see clearly. I reached up and pushed the button for my personal reading light. The light shined just enough for me, but not so much that the person next to me was irritated by my light. If she wanted to read too, she would need to reach up and press her personal light button so she could see the words in her own book.

That’s the way God’s direction is for me. It’s not something I can mooch off of a friend or teacher. It’s something I have to find myself.

It takes me seeking God personally, and Him revealing His path for me individually.

Sometimes when we see other people thriving in their callings or excelling in their lives, we lose sight of the light God is shining for our path and we get distracted and feel like our light is dim.

The truth is that God’s direction and light in our lives is always accessible. It’s up to us to reach up and access the Light personally.

If you’ve felt uncertain or struggled to see the next step of the journey, here are a few things to remember about God our Light:

1. God does not condemn.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17 (ESV)

When we are feeling less than certain about the way God is directing, the enemy begins to plant seeds of doubt and confusion in our hearts and minds. We begin to feel guilty for the lack of clarity and convince ourselves we aren’t worthy to complete the calling that lays ahead of us.

Condemnation was covered at the cross. When condemnation begins to fade our view and obstruct our direction, we must rest in the assurance of the cross. Jesus already paid the price for our sin. Confess it. And be forgiven. Living a life of condemnation is living in the shadow of sin that has already been taken care of. It’s time to move into the Light.

2. God convicts.

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. John 16:8 (ESV)

If you feel God’s conviction about something in your life, don’t be afraid, be confident to change. Conviction is a beautiful gift from the Holy Spirit that reminds us the right way to go. When God illuminates where to turn, let it be. When you turn back and realize how far you’ve come, you will praise Him for the victory.

3. God calls.

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. I Thessalonians 5:24 (ESV)

Many times the directions God calls us to is difficult. Living a holy life is not something that comes easy to most of us. But Paul reminds the believers at Thessalonica that if God called them to it, He would see them through it. It’s the same for us!

4. God comforts.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)

I don’t know about you, but I often need comfort as I take steps of obedience. I’m constantly asking God to be with me. I know He will never leave me, but in my flesh, I still feel the need to ask for His presence constantly. I’m so thankful He is my Comfort even though sometimes I fail to follow the Light.

As we continue Living With Purpose in Every Season this week, let’s look for the Light.

If we individually seek Him, we will individually find Him.

What verse is God using in your life to illuminate His purpose for you?

What is God is teaching you about your purpose?

I would love to hear your thoughts and find out what God is doing in your life. Leave a comment and share this with someone you love!

Love & Blessings,

Micah

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About Micah Maddox

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  2. Micah, here’s my favorite quote: “That’s the way God’s direction is for me. It’s not something I can mooch off of a friend or teacher. It’s something I have to find myself.” So true, and that’s why it’s important to develop my own relationship with the Lord.

    1. Yes! Isn’t interesting how we look to others when all along God wants us to focus on Him? I’m learning I need to focus on Him more and more everyday.

  3. So beautiful and encouraging! I love that visual of reach up into heaven and turning on my own personal God-light! May His light always show you the way! Blessings!

  4. Thank you, Micah, for this challenge — and I must tell you that I really enjoyed your podcast with Holly! It was so good to get more of your story and to hear your voice!

  5. I’m so grateful that God does not condemn. I didn’t understand that glorious truth for a long time. But once I grabbed hold of grace, I’ve never let go!

    I haven’t listened yet, but I have your interview with Holly on my list of podcasts to listen to soon! Looking forward to learning more from you, Micah.

    1. I’m so thankful too, Lisa! I would love to hear what you think of the podcast when you get a chance to listen. Great to see you on the blog today!

  6. I definitely need these words of wisdom and comfort. It’s hard when you don’t feel you have all the answers. God is continually teaching me it’s ok to not be in control, because He always is. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Rachel, I know that feeling. It is definitely difficult when we can’t see the big picture. God is teaching me the same. Control is something I constantly struggle with. I’m so thankful that He has it all figured out! Love you!

    1. Yes, Dianne! You know what I love? When God speaks to each of His children individually about similar things. That just makes my heart leap! Thanks for sharing, Dianne.

  8. I love your words today. Purpose is my one word this year and as God convicted me that this is what He had for me, I also knew I wouldn’t discover the answer in one week or even by the end of the year. It is a process and I know that purpose changes during different seasons of life. My verses for this year are from Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG version. I love how it says that it is in Christ we find out who we are and what we are living for. I am learning quickly that purpose comes when seeking God first in everything.

    2. I love that purpose is your word this year! Such a powerful word. As I read your comment the verse Matthew 6:33 came to mind, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” I’m learning too that seeking God first is the place to find that purpose that we desire. I’m so glad you dropped in, Mary. Your words encouraged me.

  9. I love the analogy of the reading light on an airplane :). Especially the part about each individual needing to turn on his or her own light. I can’t rely on anyone else’s relationship with God–I have to form my own.

    1. Thanks, Anita. Yep, it’s an individual spiritual life, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. Isn’t it amazing that we each have access individually to God through Jesus!

  10. Micah, I’ve been tagging along behind you everywhere this morning on linkups. I’m glad God wanted me to read your post because it really spoke to me. It’s easy sometimes to wish I had another’s skills or better or different, to fulfill my calling. I need God’s comfort as I go along, too. Everything is truly found in Him. I’m being reminded of that today.

  11. Great object lesson with the cabin light, Micah. :) — For me, God has given me a heart for the now. Not the next. I’m thankful for that perspective, because as you know, it’s not one that always comes naturally. :) — Great to be your linkup buddy at Holley’s place this morning. ((hug))

  12. I’ve found this be so true “It takes me seeking God personally, and Him revealing His path for me individually.” God’s guidance is not rocket science but it takes heart to continually listen to him attentively and expectantly. We are so blessed that our God is interested in each of us individually. Thanks, Micah. Blessings to you!

  13. Thank you for the encouragement. It’s not always clear for me at once how God is leading too and even when I know where He’s leading, fine tuning the details sometimes take longer than I care to wait. But He does lead and with patience, I can get it right and avoid costly mistakes. Thank you once again.

  14. “Sometimes when we see other people thriving in their callings or excelling in their lives, we lose sight of the light God is shining for our path and we get distracted and feel like our light is dim.”
    How quickly I can forget that God gave me my light and where he wants me to shine it! Great read! Love it

  15. Excellent point. God’s light is personal and directed… only for individuals. We can’t mooch off of the light others have, but need to reach up and be illuminated by Him for ourselves. Thanks!

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