After several hours of calculating drips and adjusting medications to keep the patient asleep and still, my shift was over.  The surgeon had meticulously toiled unsuccessfully to stop the hemorrhaging aneurysm.  Quickly, I reported off to the anesthesiologist assuming care and changed out of scrubs eager to be free from the day.  As I opened the door to the stairwell and began my descent down, I realized I was not alone.  Sitting on a stair outside the door, a young woman clutched the phone to her ear as tears fell.  She relayed the message she had just received from the surgeon.  There was nothing more he could do.  Her mother would be transferred from the OR to the ICU and they would wait for family to take her off the breathing machine.

It was my patient’s daughter.

Many years ago, I remember navigating the tension of my career choice as I plotted my future course.  What amount of nobility, flexibility, and financial rewards were needed to off-set the realties above?  I calculated income and overtime against my hopes and desires.

I came to a startling and surprising conclusion.  I realized neither careers, possessions, or travel would satisfy my desire for purpose or passion.  A little further down the road, I realized family and friends were also insufficient paths to passion and purpose.

Eventually, my pursuit led to an unexpected conclusion.  My secret to finding purpose and passion was found by saying yes, Lord.

It was counter to what our culture and flesh demanded, but true to what God’s Word promised.  “For whoever wants to save their life^[f will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Our purpose is tied to Someone and something eternal.  That’s why careers, travel, possessions, things, and relationships outside of Him will eventually ring hollow.  They are insufficient fillers for the seed of an eternal purpose embedded in each of us.

However, when God begins to link our careers, travel, possessions, things, and relationships to His Kingdom come His will be done, things begin to take shape.  When we stop asking questions that make us BIG but God small, our lives begin to make sense.

Pondering what you are supposed to be when you grow up is wise.  Confusing your career choice with your purpose in life is dangerous.

Maybe we would never consciously confuse the two, but subconsciously the lines can blur.  Questions like this make us BIG but God small.

Our purpose is rooted in a BIG GOD but small me.

Learning to be used by God to usher in His Kingdom on earth is the secret to finding purpose and passion.

Careers, homes, money, and things are the tools God uses to fulfill His will and our purpose. These are the ways God wants to invade our world and bring Light and Hope to the nations. I am thankful for the freedom, flexibility, and financial means to serve God in fun and creative ways. Freedom, flexibility and financial means are the fruit of my choices regarding career, money, things and relationships. But in and of themselves, these things will never satisfy my need for purpose or passion.

Once my identity, purpose, and passion were rooted in God, these tools became a blessing.  Outside of Him, they were insufficient tools assigned to tasks they were incapable of accomplishing.  They could never offer me the passion and purpose I craved.

As we say goodbye to 2020 and look forward to the hope and promise of 2021, I want to encourage you to seek God regarding your purpose.  Ask Him to unravel the secret to living yes, Lord. Ask God how to use the tools He’s given you.   Allow obedience to Him to lead you to the passion, purpose, and satisfaction you crave.