Back in 2018, I was sitting inside my house looking out the window, keeping a close eye on Sean. We had worked on his various home therapies. He was annoyed with the exercises and instead of cajoling and encouraging (basically pushing Sean to finish); I decided to let him outside, and skip the rest of the protocol.
I remembered saying to God that I was grateful that his seizure situation was improving, but Sean is "done" and "there's got to be more to life than this".
He told me you were created for a purpose. My response was "yes, I know, I know....but". HE said, "I saved you both for a purpose. Not done yet”.
Because the thing is, when you’re stuck in survival mode, always know that there is a better way. That God has plans for our lives — plans to prosper, to impact his kingdom, and plans to give us hope and a future.
However, I know that with all the stress and the burden we carry everyday in our lives, we get to ask this question — do you believe it? Do you believe that we’re created with a purpose and that God isn’t done with us yet?
If you read the New Testament carefully, you'll come across this passage as Jesus approaches his final days on earth:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
The thief will always attempt to bring us to our knees, steal our happiness, and extinguish any glimmer of hope for a better future. However, Jesus came to change everything.
Jesus came into the world to give us life. Life abundantly, not just any life.
Living purposefully
You see, we often have no trouble believing in God or others, but we have a hard time believing in ourselves.
Everything about you, from your upbringing to your appearance to your personality, was carefully planned. Even the difficult times or chapters in your life that you would rather rewrite, He will turn them around and use them for His glory! God did not create suffering or pain, but He sees it and, when we surrender it to Him, He transforms it into beauty.
Sean and I were both not only created for a purpose but God saved our lives for a purpose. Sean almost died during his entrance into this world. Both Sean and I have had "events" that God had us covered; if not, we would not be here. He still protects us.
Friend, we are His Masterpiece. We are created on purpose for a purpose. He loves us. He has good things planned for us. Now let's go live it!
"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).
Unsure of what your next step or purpose is? Check out this list on how to discover yours below.
How to find your purpose and unlocking your best life
Develop a growth mindset
Having a growth mindset is intimately connected to the formation of a meaningful sense of purpose. Discovering your life's mission and making the decision to actively pursue it can be facilitated by making continuous improvements to one's self-awareness and level of personal development.
Practice gratitude
Positive psychology studies show that being grateful is strongly and consistently linked to being happier. Gratitude enables individuals to experience more positive emotions, appreciating good experiences, improving their health, dealing with adversity, and forming strong bonds and relationships.
Turn your pain into purpose!
Turning pain into a purpose is one of the most healing things you can do in your life. Pain has a powerful way of enlightening us about what matters most and what our true calling is.
While there is a great deal of suffering, pain, and uncertainty all around us, there is also the possibility of change. Because when things go wrong, there is a greater chance for things to turn around for the better. Our trying times can also be an opportunity for us to pivot and let go of what no longer serves us.
Create a vision statement
A personal vision statement can help you deal with stress and make sure your life is in balance. It also helps you figure out your core values and figure out what's important to you, which will lead you to your purpose.
A purpose statement helps you make decisions that are in line with your values and keeps you going as you work toward your own goals.
Practice self-acceptance
When things go wrong, it can help to be kinder to yourself if you know what you can't do. We all make mistakes, but instead of beating yourself up, try to see each one as a chance to learn and get better.
Self-compassion can help you learn more about yourself and accept yourself more. When you accept everything about yourself, you are more likely to do your best in every situation. This could happen at work, with your family, or while you're doing something you enjoy.
This can make you feel more connected to other people and the things you do, giving your life more meaning.