Today’s reading is Psalm 138.
Here is a brief excerpt from the last 2 verses.
Psalm 138:7–8 (ESV):
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
These past couple weeks there has been a lot of talk about purpose around my life. It started with our kids’ lesson at Eastview Christian Church where they learned about God’s purpose for Esther’s life where she became queen (even though she was Jewish and the king didn’t know it), so she could save her people from death. Dictionary.com defines purpose as the following, “the reason for which something is done, made, used, etc.” If you believe Psalm 139:13, “For You formed my inward parts, You knitted me together in my mother’s womb,” then you know God, your Creator, made you for a purpose or reason by its definition.
Eastview asked the kids to reflect this week on these questions…
- What are you really good at?
- How can you use that for good in the world?
These are 2 really simple questions we can ask ourselves as adults even.
Ironically just a few days later Kurt Dorner, my Managing Director and mentor, asked us to reflect on the following questions about finding our purpose.
- How can my uniqueness impact me and others?
- What are my core values and who do I want to be known as?
You may in a tough place mentally right now..wondering what you are good at and what God can use you for. Trust though that God does have a purpose for you, even if you feel you have been stricken with hardship or illness and even if it is not what you would have chosen for yourself.
John 9:1-3 (ESV):
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Have you stopped to think about how God’s mighty works might be shown and made known through your challenges? You may be thinking you are unlucky to have these “bad things” happen to you when in reality maybe you should feel blessed and humbled that God cared enough about you to use you for His purpose and glory in the world and to impact others for Him uniquely in a way the only you can. So many have used what seemed to be unfortunate circumstances of a tragic accident leading to a disability, an illness, challenges with depression or anxiety, beating an addiction problem, or the life of their special needs child to glorify God and make His love and provision still through their situation known to others.
God’s purpose cannot be thwarted..even by death. This past weekend 320 teams made up of nearly 4,000 boys ages 8 to 14 across the Midwest and their families played in the 17th Brad Wallin Memorial Baseball Tournament in Peoria. Brad was a little boy from Chillicothe, IL who died from cancer sadly. However, this tournament has raised over $1 Million dollars for St. Jude’s to help other kids with cancer, not to mention help this kids and families give thanks to God for each day and the opportunity to play baseball while reflecting also on the fact that life is about more than just baseball. Our son, Deklin, plays for Game 7 which has 21 baseball and softball teams with over 250 kids ages 8 to 18 here in Bloomington- Normal, IL. Game 7’s mission is, “changing the world with the hope of Jesus: one athlete, one coach, one team at a time.” Game 7’s faith based baseball idea came from Michael Collins and his Dad, Jim, with Michael coming up with the name because the ultimate “Game 7” in life is accepting Jesus as your Savior. Tragically, Michael was killed by a drunk driver a few weeks after coming up with this idea and name. But, Jim and Michael’s Mom Kelly have continued Michael’s purpose to glorify Jesus through his life through Game 7 and the Michael Collins Foundation/MC Strong. Game 7 is not only changing the lives of the boys and girls on their own teams’ kids, but is also having an impact on other teams and their kids by inviting the opposing team to pray around home plate after each game to glorify God.
Again…God’s purpose cannot be stopped…even by death. He has shown us that not only by Brad and Michael’s life and legacy, but through the life and Resurrection of His only Son Jesus. He took the biggest injustice and worst event in the history of mankind, the only truly sinless person to ever live suffering and being crucified, and used it for His greatest purpose to save mankind.
How can He use you and your life?
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
