Still basking in the joy of my birth month, I give all glory to God for His unwavering faithfulness in my life. As I reflect on His goodness, a deep, unshakable joy wells up within me. I am a work in progress, yet my heart overflows with peace, knowing that the One who calms every storm is right here in the boat with me.
Twice in recent times, I came across a quote that pierced deep into my soul: “No one is more stressed than a person who is aware of their full potential and isn’t living up to it.” I couldn’t help but pause and ponder. It made me reflect deeply on my life. I quickly asked God for strength and inspiration in that moment, because left unchecked, such thoughts can become an avenue for the enemy to creep in and sow doubt. What was meant to be a reflection could’ve turned into despair.
It must have taken great thought for the originator of that quote to pen those words. And perhaps like that person, you too, my dear friend, may find yourself questioning your purpose, your calling, or even whether God’s promises about your life are true. This isn’t a regular motivational speech. This is me calling your attention to something deeper: it’s okay to evaluate your life. But the moment that reflection turns into doubting the reality of God’s love or the power of His Word in your life, know this: the enemy is interested in tearing you down.
From my personal walk, I’ve discovered that two major reasons contribute to this feeling of internal unrest: Living outside God’s purpose for your life and being enrolled in God’s training school, preparation for what’s yet to come.
Many of us are caught in between both.
We are the products of a divine Manufacturer, God. When we operate contrary to His design, we malfunction. We hit rock bottom and begin to sway, searching desperately for meaning. If we don’t return to our Maker, we risk becoming stagnant and unfruitful. On the other hand, God, who sees the end from the beginning, sometimes allows us to go through inconvenient seasons to shape, refine and equip us for destiny. The Bible reminds us: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful” (1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV) and “The thoughts I think toward you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). He alone sees that glorious end.
You may be wondering: “But what about spiritual warfare?”. It’s all part of the journey. Though forces of darkness may believe they are having their way, they often serve as instruments to build up God’s children. Through fervent prayer, deep study of the Word and a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, we triumph! Even Jesus was tempted by the devil and faced intense persecution during His ministry.
Take Joseph, for example. The Bible makes it seem like his trials passed quickly. But think about it, a boy with great dreams, dearly loved by his father, sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned. Yet an event that seemed so minor, a dream catapulted him into the manifestation of his destiny. If Joseph lived in our time, social pressure and constant comparison might have broken him.
This year, many people are hitting major milestones, 30, 40, 50 and beyond. If you find yourself stressed, asking “When will I make it?” know this: you are not alone. And if you feel like you have nothing to show, be thankful that you still have the ability to reason and understand what you’re reading right now. That’s a gift!
Ask your Maker to breathe upon you, to show you where you are in the story He’s writing. If you’re out of alignment, it’s not too late to come back to Him. The pages of your life are still very much intact.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that I’ve strayed from Your path. I recognize my need for You. Please forgive me, restore me, and align me with Your purpose. I surrender again to Your will. Breathe afresh on me, and help me to walk in the story You’ve written for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God loves you deeply, eternally, and intentionally.