Friday, June 2, 2023
Do you ever reflect on what you thought—a year ago, five years ago, ten years ago, or more—your life would look like where you’re at now?
Or do you ever consider the little decisions and coincidences that had to happen for your life to be what it is now?
I’ve said it many times before, and I will say it again—in college, I had some pretty clear ideas of what my future would look like, and I was completely wrong.
Fortunately, I love the life I’m leading, even through the challenging seasons. But to get here, I had to sacrifice some other hopes and dreams over the years. Sometimes I had to give up on things I really wanted because they didn’t line up with the purpose-filled life God has called me to.
Originally, I’d dreamed of being a copywriter at a publishing house anywhere outside of Northwest Ohio. But, as I realized during my internship at CedarCreek that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, I had to let that dream die. Originally I’d dreamed of owning a tiny, minimalistic home—something easy to keep up, where I could hide away. But I realized God could do more good through me if I owned a home I could share with others, both by having roommates and by just inviting friends into my home to be in community.
None of my dreams were inherently bad. Sometimes we have to sacrifice things that aren’t healthy for us; but other times, we have to sacrifice things that aren’t bad—maybe they’re even good—for the sake of God’s better plan.
I must also constantly sacrifice the things that I know aren’t God’s best for me so I can be obedient to whom he calls me to be. Some days I sacrifice my pride to have the humility to grow. I’ve had to sacrifice my desire to get back at someone when I feel I’ve been mistreated, choosing God’s grace and mercy instead. On days when I’m sad or frustrated, I try to sacrifice my tendency to be short-tempered and impatient for the sake of showing kindness to the people around me (who, generally, have absolutely nothing to do with my bad mood).
It goes without saying, I often do not sacrifice these desires, and instead act prideful, wrathful, impatient, and worse. Still, each day I try to choose to show up as my best self, in obedience to the way God calls us to live.
When we do this, it makes a difference. We might not always see the impact it has, but by living by the fruit of God’s Spirit, we demonstrate the love of Jesus to those around us.
Matthew 5:14-16
14“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
I will continue to communicate God’s message clearly to people who want to learn through my work at CedarCreek. I will show up in my relationships in ways to help my friends feel God’s love in tough times. And I will pray that God speaks to you through my writing. I may never know if my life will make a difference in huge ways, but I will continue to be faithful and trust God to use me as he sees fit.
Questions:
What is God calling you to sacrifice in this season?
Where have you seen the butterfly effect of living out God’s purpose, either in your life or through the lives of others?
What do you feel is God’s purpose for your life?
Next Steps:
Decide on one thing God is calling you to sacrifice in this season, so that you can live out his better purpose.
It’s easier to live according to God’s purpose for our lives when we know what it is. Write out a purpose statement for yourself. If you need help, GrowthTrack is a great place to start.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the sacrifice your Son made so we could each live a rich, satisfying, purpose-filled life. Help us to make the sacrifices you ask of us, so we can experience the better life you offer. May we see the butterfly effect of your goodness in our lives and the lives of those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Luke 8:15
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.