Yesterday, I was having a discussion with the kids about what they want to be when they all grow up. This is a recurring conversation in our house that somehow never gets old. I guess I like to ask a lot of questions just to get a feel for what's going on inside their little minds. Plus, it's fun.
As expected, everyone gave their typical answers, adding nothing new or different. That is, until we got to 4-year-old Kaleb, who usually has nothing to contribute other than, "I don't know." For some reason, on yesterday, he had an epiphany out of the blue. Suddenly all his ambiguity about future aspirations was replaced with clarity and certainty.
He looked me straight in the eyes and said in a very matter-of-fact tone, "I wanna be the ice cream man." It was the cutest thing and he was 100% serious. In his youthful innocence, Kaleb is obviously drawing conclusions about his future based upon what brings him pleasure today.
In his mind it's as simple as: I love ice cream and the ice cream man gets to be around ice cream all the time; therefore, that's what I want to be. The ice cream man!
On a basic level, we all think like that when seeking out our life's mission. We want to do something that aligns with what we like and what we're passionate about, right? As we mature, however, we grow to understand that committing to a specific course goes beyond what we like or prefer.
Like it or not, in the Kingdom of God, the path we must take is often hard and fraught with adversity. But in this day and age, we're taught to pursue only what we're passionate about, rather than sacrificing our own will in order to let His will be done. While we can fully rely upon God to equip us to carry out whatever our assignment is, His word never promises that we will always like what He chooses for us.
If you don't remember anything else from this post, remember this: Our purpose is not always tied to what brings us the most pleasure. In fact, I'm a witness that God will challenge us to do the things we're most reluctant to do, in order to accomplish His will.
Consider our ultimate example, Jesus Christ and what His purpose was. He lived to die for our sins. Think He had pleasant thoughts about being crucified?
Nope.
But isn't that what His mission, purpose, and assignment required?
Yep.
Let's all take a page from His book. Although He didn't like some of the steps He had to take to fulfill His mission, there was a deeper passion that guided and shaped His convictions. His true desire was to do His Father's will. And that's what helped Jesus endure all the unpleasant stuff.
It'll help us too.
We must have one true passion that outweighs all others... the passion to use our lives to please the Lord everyday.
So today, whether we like what we've been called to do or not, let us all adopt Jesus' perspective that says, "Nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42b).
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
