Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive, because your words become your behaviors.
Keep your behaviors positive, because your behaviors become your habits.
Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.
~ Ghandi
We all want to know why we’re here. We all want to achieve our calling. As we grow up, we realize we’re wanderers and followers, that it’s more difficult than we thought to stay on our path. Like sheep, we’re dumb and get lost over and over again, or worse become the victims of dorsal recumbency – rolling onto our backs and being unable to get back up.
But, alas, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) God, our Shepard, tells us simply how we can achieve our calling. In His very own Word, He makes us a promise. Perhaps my favorite promise in the Bible. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.” (Proverbs 3:6) As believers, we cling to His promises. Depend on them. And here, I will dissect one.
The Word says if we acknowledge God in all our ways, He will direct our path. Hint: In all our ways. Are you acknowledging Him with your words? How about your thoughts? Your actions? Your lifestyle?
If so, God promises to make our path straight. So then what is our path? “Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.’” (John 12:35) Okay, so we know our path is one of light. Anything else?
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” (Proverbs 4:25) Okay, so we know we are to be walking forward. But what lies ahead?
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) Aha! God is before us. What are we to be fixing our eyes on? God.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6) And we’ve come full circle. The path we walk, the path of light, and the path to God, is Jesus Christ. So what is this calling that we so desperately want clarified in our Earthly lives? Our calling is the path. Our calling is Him! I love how simple the Bible makes some things.
Our mission is this: Use your strengths (gifts) to make your weaknesses known. And by doing so, you make God known.
If you look at the millions of stars stretched out above you, you realize how small you are.
It’s a good thing to be reminded of. In the grand scheme of things, you’re tiny. A mere blip.
But you’re also irreplaceable, invaluable, and miraculous. Truth is, those stars ain’t got nothing on you! 😉
Don’t waste your white space. Just because you don’t think anything is going on in your life, doesn’t mean God’s not at work. He uses white space, the down time of our lives, to prepare us. It is standard practice in His method of preparation. Look at any of His chosen ones. Paul was chosen yet God took nearly two decades to prepare him.
YOU, TOO, ARE HIS CHOSEN ONE! So don’t underestimate the times in your life when it seems like you’re not moving forward. “The White Space” is God’s garden in His preparation for your blossoming. It is where He does His best work in preparing you for His calling on your life.
Remember, God calls you first to Himself and then only secondarily to a task. That means, that what God is doing IN you is just as important, if not more important, than what He is doing THROUGH you. So if He is taking longer than you expected to fulfill what He promised in your life, respond with faith. He always keeps His promises. And definitely, definitely, don’t waste your white space.
Have you ever found that activity you were made for? While you’re doing it your whole self, from the tips of your toes to your head to your soul, screams, “This is what I was made for!” It’s similar to an adrenaline rush but not the same. An adrenaline rush is more of a one time thing. Eventually, as the activity is repeated, the rush will dissipate as the activity simply doesn’t provide that same stimulation.
Not so with finding your calling. Doing what you were made to do gives you that same high over and over again for as long as you do it. I believe we were made to live this way. But the tragedy is most of us settle for less.
Ever tried doing something else for a living after having found your calling? Your whole body refuses. Day and night, it mumbles with depression- but what about ——? Oh, sure, there are moments of happiness but the sorrow which permeates is ever present, like a shadow over all you hope to accomplish. Point is, your body knows when you’re doing what you were made to do. You’re soul, mind, heart… they all know. It is quite literally a physical reaction that we have to doing (or not doing) our “job”.
We all know what it’s like to have a friend or family member mad at us. Their disappointment and dissatisfaction combined with our guilt and shame, weighs on us like a cinder block in the ocean. Similarly, not following your calling, when you’ve been blessed enough to find it, is like having your own self mad at you. And having to face that person in the mirror, day in and day out.
Don’t confuse your path with your destination. Just because it’s storming now doesn’t mean you’re not headed for sunshine!
You don’t have to know where you’re headed, to be going somewhere great.
Be careful of short-term thinking – your struggles will not last forever, but you will. You still have your destiny.
Vehicle of Wisdom 