Finding Your Purpose

“Rather than being purpose-driven, I prefer to be presence-centered.”  I am currently reading Heidi Baker’s book, Reckless Devotion: 365 Days into the Heart of Radical Love, and this one really resonated with me. 

 So often we are trying to do our best as Christians to discern our God-given purpose so we can walk it out and make a positive impact on the world.  This is not a bad thing in itself, but when we get too focused on figuring out our action-driven purpose, we forget that our original purpose is to be in relationship with God.  This is why we were created. 

People don’t choose to have a child because of the role in society that the child will play in the future.  If this were the case, parents would simply be popping out kids and sending them off to career training from birth rather than participating in the painstaking work of raising them.  In the same way, God did not create his children with the sole purpose of the work that they will end up doing.  He created them with the intent of having a close and loving relationship with them.

Parents choose to have a child because of the joy and fulfilment that the parent/child relationship brings, even before their child contributes anything of measurable productivity to society.   God created us for the purpose of being in relationship with him and not for the purpose of what we will produce or achieve.  The impact we have on the world is a natural byproduct that will come from being steeped in the presence of the Lord.

I have had days when I wake up fully focused on my “To-Do” list.  I believe I do important work that makes a positive impact, and there are action steps I need to take in order to carry it out.  However, when I get too focused on what I’m producing and achieving, I get frazzled and stressed, and much of my efforts seem to lead to nothing.  When I first take time to simply sit in God’s presence and allow myself to be his daughter, my day goes much differently.  I find that he directs my attention to what is most important.  My anxieties are washed away which gives me clarity in hearing his voice and how to proceed.  I get to enjoy the comfort and peace of simply being his dearly-loved daughter, and then I get the joy of using my gifts and talents to bring him glory and positively impact the world.

When I was a little girl, I loved crawling in to my dad’s lap and snuggling against his chest.  I remember feeling his warmth and hearing the calming rhythm of his heartbeat.  I felt safe and loved and completely at ease, without any fear or concern that he wouldn’t take care of me.  This is how I feel when I take time to allow myself to focus on God’s presence every morning.   Furthermore, I’m sure my dad loved having his little girl rest in his lap and lean her head on his chest.  I believe we bring joy to God’s heart when we come to him in this way.  It is a mutual blessing for both of us!  

Many people do not have earthly fathers who modeled God’s love the way that my dad did, but you can rest assured that your father in heaven loves you with a perfect love regardless of how your earthly father loved you.  He welcomes your presence, your attention, your needs and desires. 

When we are focused on being purpose-driven, we miss out on the benefits and joy of cultivating a loving relationship with God.  We become performance-driven, measuring our success or God’s love for us by the outcomes of what we see from our efforts.  But when we are presence-centered, focusing on God’s unconditional love and desire to be in relationship with us, our disappointment in our own abilities to perform and our fears of his disappointment in us are washed away. 

Rather than focusing on the outcome of your purpose, first focus on his presence. 

James 4:8  “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”