Purpose
I like to be happy.
I don’t like tears. Or trouble. Or heartache. Or sin. Or putting away laundry.
I don’t care for difficult circumstances. Hardship. Strain. Damaged relationships. Dirty houses. Dust.
I like peace. Tidiness. Sleeping in. Harmony.
Recently at my Bible study our group was talking about the sin of unthankfulness. And how we can be so ungrateful for what we have, for what we have been spared. For where we were born. For grace.
All of it.
Which started a side conversation about being thankful in all circumstances. Seeing the good that God can work from the bad. Embracing the situation for the shaping powers it possesses, even before you can see your way out of the pit.
All the nice talk.
That nice talk that sometimes feels like it doesn’t hold weight when your back is against the wall. When you get a three a.m. phone call. When the money runs out before the bills do. When you watch a family bruised by divorce. A parent succumb to a disease. A sibling rebel against the family.
When all the verses about God working for your good seem . . . hollow.
(At best.)
During that conversation a girl whom I had never met before said something.
She said, “When I am in situations like that, I try to remember to ask myself one question. “What is my purpose?”
What?
My purpose?
My Purpose.
In the bigger picture. In this story called life.
And that’s what I have been thinking about.
What is my purpose?
To bring God honor. To promote His name.
In the words of the catechism I memorized long ago as a stringy-haired kid – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Now that changes some things.
Like, all things.
If my purpose is to honor God
than I guess that makes it equally clear what my purpose is not . . .
It’s not to be healthy.
Or happy.
Or to have great skin or to adorn my body entirely in North Face attire.
It’s not even to raise six children. Be a good wife. Meet the needs of my friends. Be a loving mother.
Those are not my purpose.
My purpose is to honor God.
And in my honoring of God I will probably become a better wife. A kinder mother. A more faithful friend.
I might be happy. I might have good health. I might have enough money to buy two North Face shirts (on sale at TJ Maxx).
But none of that works, none of that matters, when I lose sight of my purpose.
And it’s a pretty simple purpose.
Too bad simple has never meant easy.
10 Comments
Darrell Powell
Everyday , every second we need remind our sinful selves of such wisdom. "I come that you may have Life"
Thanks Lacy
Darrell Powell
Kevin Keigley
This is true.
What you have said in such simple terms is what many struggle all of their lives to understand.
It is SO EVERYDAY.
Capturing little moments and turning them towards God.
All of us, under any circumstance, have the same opportunity to glorify God.
Every one of us.
I guess that we're all in this together.
(Cue Zac Efron and the cast of High School Musical)
Crystal
Hey Cousin! Today I finally got around to reading your blog and now I'm hooked! This posting was especially good -what a simply idea but so true – just learning to relax in loving Him! I'm due in about 9 days with our first little one and pretty scared about being a mum but thanks for being real and giving me the opportunity to see the importance and fun of this challenge we've been offered. Someday we'll have to get down there to visit you guys!
laceykeigley
Oh my goodness!!! I am so excited to even see your name here! And I cannot believe I didn’t even KNOW you were pregnant! What does that say for our family’s communication skills lately? Urghh. I want to hear more – And yes – we should plan ahead – I have been thinking about planning a reunion anyway – maybe now is the time!!! And I know for certain you will be an incredible mother- you have such a fun, powerful example in your own mom and I’m telling you – that goes a long way!
Mary Kathryn
thank you for sharing that. I definitely needed to hear that today
Jenny Powell
amen sister…..I needed that.
Mike King
Nice article Maggie and great to see others sharing their purpose and restoring themselves back to what matters more than them. THanks!
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LaceyKeigley
Man, Maggie Wickstrum – I hear you.
Especially the part about being a liar as soon as you speak.
I am always singing "give me one pure and holy passion" while I am pursuing some other passion besides honoring God.
Maggie
I sure did need to hear that. I am a whiney girl lately and I feel helpless, I alway forget my calling: To honor God. DOH! I am an idiot. It is simple. But I always forget that, I sing that song "In all I do, I honor you because you are my King!" I am a liar ten seconds after those words come out of my mouth.