Stepping into Your God-given Purpose: “What Will You Do With Your Life?”
Everyday we are faced with decisions.
What we will wear, eat, who our friends are going to be, where we’re going to live, what Netflix show we’re going to watch or not watch. The list is endless.
But one of the most common questions we’re faced with is: What will you do with your life?
It’s a big question.
As followers of Christ, our answer is straightforward: glorify and love God and love others – it’s why he created us (Mark 12:30-31).
While the Bible is a roadmap to how we should live, it doesn’t exactly tell usyou what job you should take, where you should move, or who you should marry.
So, how do we know if we’re making the right decisions?
You’ve probably heard the quote by Alexander Graham Bell, “When one door closes, another one opens.”
But what if more than one door is open and neither option seems wrong? Or, what if no doors are open at all?
We’re terrified of making the wrong decision, and it can be paralyzing.
But sometimes we’re so focused on making the wrong decision that we forget to open our eyes and see what God is doing in the opportunities right in front of us.
What if God’s will for our lives is that we would be present in each moment and seek to glorify him in everything we do? What if his will for us is that we would trust that he has given us the wisdom and discernment to make choices rooted in his Word?
That’s what happened in the story of Esther.
Esther, The Queen of Persia
The book of Esther doesn’t mention God once, but his presence is prevalent throughout the book, orchestrating each moment.
The book takes place around 480 B.C. in the Persian Empire. During this time, many Jews lived in exile in Persia. In the story, Esther is chosen to be the next queen of the Persian Empire. However, her cousin, Mordecai, instructs her to not tell anyone that she is a Jew. At this exact time a Persian official, Haman, is plotting to eradicate the Jews living in exile in Persia, and Esther is faced with a tough decision.
While Esther has favor in the eyes of the king, no one is supposed to approach the king’s inner courts unless called upon or they would be put to death. The only exception is if the king holds out his golden scepter.
Despite the possible consequences, Mordecai urges Esther to speak up for her people.
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place… and who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
Mordecai knew that God had placed Esther in her situation for a reason, but he also had faith that God would deliver his people regardless. God chooses to use us, but he does not need us to fulfill his purpose. Stil, Mordecai encourages Esther to have the discernment to realize that God had placed her in the king’s court for a purpose.
Esther agrees to go but asks her community to fast and pray alongside her.
“Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
Her response is bold and courageous. She is obedient to God’s calling, no matter the cost. In the end, Esther is spared and saves her people from Haman.
The Same Idea
Maybe your situation isn’t a matter of life or death. Yet, if we look at Esther’s story, we see God’s hand in it all. He equipped Esther with courage, wisdom, and discernment. He also placed trusted people in her community, like Mordecai, to pray, encourage, challenge, and walk alongside her.
Where are you at a crossroads in your life? Maybe you’re deciding between two jobs or wondering where you should move.
Whatever it is, ask God for wisdom and discernment (James 1:5). Pray, read Scripture, and ask people you trust for guidance.
While the Bible doesn’t tell you where to move or who to marry, it does tell you what posture you should live your life – in humble servitude to God. And when we find ourselves fully surrendered to his will and truth is when we discover true purpose and guidance.
God places passions and people in our lives for a reason. Don’t get so caught up in what he wants you to do that you miss the opportunities he’s placed right in front of you.
Instead, focus on living a life fully-devoted to Christ and watch how it transforms every area of your life.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-10).
Kali Gibson is the Editor in Chief of So We Speak.
