I worked in the 20s-30s ministry at my church for a couple years and I spent a lot of time researching that age group, also knowns as Millennials. I am currently working at the fabulous RELEVANT magazine, a 20s-30s publication that has somehow managed to find the perfect mix of current, cool and Christian. (I believe the word I’m looking for is, well, relevant. Check out the magazine/website/podcast: relevantmagazine.com. And disclaimer: Nothing I write is their fault.) I’ve also been leading Bible studies and teaching Sunday School classes for my peers since I graduated from college.
All that to say, I’ve spent some serious time looking at (and personally experiencing) the young adult need for finding their purpose and God’s will for their lives. But you know what? I don’t think that search magically goes away once you hit age 40. Seems like a universal issue to me. Why am I here? Is it just about the American dream? Get a job, marry somebody, buy a house, have some kids, join PTA, buy some stuff, become a grandparent, retire, die comfortably in my sleep. And then stand before God and say, “Well, that was nice. Glad to be Home.”
No, no, no! That’s not what I want! I mean, it WAS what I wanted. It was EXACTLY what I wanted for a long time. Nothing more, nothing less. Then my dream got messed up. As many times as I tried to get my plan back on track, it was not to be. And figuring that out was one of the most freeing moments of my life.
There’s this famous scene in Chariots of Fire. You all probably know what I’m talking about. Eric Liddell is talking to his sister, Jenny, who wants him to focus on mission work.
I believe God made me for a purpose, for China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure. To give that up would be to hold Him in contempt. You were right. It’s not just fun. To win is to honor Him.
Feel His pleasure? Are you kidding me? You mean that’s actually an option? Is there anything a Christian could want more than to feel God’s pleasure?
There are only a couple things I do well, and writing is one of them. And you know what? When I write, I feel His pleasure. Hence, this blog.
So here’s what I want to ask you: What’s your blank? In the phrase, “When I , I feel God’s pleasure,” what goes in that space? Do you know? You really might not have any idea, and that’s okay. I don’t think God is trying to keep His desire for you a big secret. Ask Him to show you. Or maybe you know what it is, but you have no idea what to do with it or how/if it can fit into your current life. That’s okay, too. Ask Him to show you. He wants you to know so you can do it.
That’s why you’re here. When you do the thing God has put you here to do, you feel His pleasure. That’s just how it works. So figure out what that is and do it like crazy.
He may want you to sell all your worldly possessions and take up full-time mission work in another country. Maybe there’s a cause that needs your abilities and attention. Maybe there’s a talent He’s given you that can be used to bless others. Maybe your blank takes every waking moment of your life. Maybe it just takes part of it.
God wants me to write. He also wants me to be a loving wife, a present mom, and dependable employee. That’s what things look like in this season of my life. In the next season, things might look different. We’ll see.
But I can’t think about someday. I’m not guaranteed another season. All I’ve got is today. Right now. I’ve got one shot on this earth. When I stand before God, I don’t want Him to say, “Yeah, but what about that thing? That one thing I always wanted you to do that we always talked about? What happened there?” I want the high-five, the big hug where He swings me around in the air, puts me back down, looks right into my eyes and says, “You nailed it. Well done, My girl. Welcome Home.”
So in this inaugural blog post, I ask you again: What’s your blank? Find it. Do it. Feel your heart awaken to God’s purpose. Live that abundant life Jesus was always talking about.
And feel His pleasure.
