When I think about purpose, why do I automatically think about Justin Bieber singing his song that’s entitled “Purpose”? The lyrics in this song are pretty awesome and deserve just a little bit of our attention. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I have a weird obsession with definitions. My mother told me that she played with the dictionary as a child. I feel like so many people are saying in their head right now, “that's so lame”. But, she explained that she basically, would go to random pages and teach herself the words on the page. I then grew up spending time doing the same thing. Now that technology has evolved, I look words up on the dictionary app. Yes, lol there’s an app for the dictionary. And yes, I just lol’d. Look I just did it again. I want this blog to be a genuine representation of who I am, and comfortable for me to write. I use the phrase lol often. Even though you can now access the dictionary on your electronic device, I encourage you to keep a physical copy of the dictionary at home as well. Hello! It also adds “bookshelf character”. I understand that I have nerd-like tendencies and to be honestly, I appreciate that side of myself. I do genuinely enjoy googling words on my iPhone or laptop. It’s like a little self-confidence builder. I know that I can use the specific words that I have taken the time to look up, to its fullest potential, because I’ve checked the dignified, definition that it carries. The word purpose, carries this specific definition;
pur·pose
/ˈpərpəs
the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists
So when we hear, and use the repetitive phrase, “Everyone has a purpose in life”, or some variation of that, we are really saying that we believe that everyone was born with intention, due to the fact that there is a reason for why we were created, that there is a specific reason why each of us exist. Aren’t words brilliant? Did you understand that such a statement carried so much depth? Do you still that believe that everyone has a purpose?
Anyone who was born after 1980, is scientifically considered to be a member of generation Y, the Millennials. Welcome. This is a beautiful time and age range where I believe, growth and self-actualization can peak. I truly believe that we are becoming ourselves every day. This is a positive. This means that during this age range, we have the beautiful gift of time, to turn inward and discover our “reason”. The definition begins, by pointing out that to have purpose, you must also have reason. Through our purpose, we then gain reason as to why we were created. Our “purpose reason”, in my opinion explains why we’re here in the first place.
Taking our time is an understatement. It seems as if many of us Millennials are taking our time on a lot of milestones that our parents and grandparents had already experienced in their mid-twenties and thirties. We only state facts so let’s look at the receipts.
Millennials are moving out later, marrying older, and having children later in life.
Ladies and gents! Never fear! It’s not too late for you to fall in love and get married!
Not ready for a baby? You’ve got time! Apparently, we’re starting our own families later too.
Do you know what your purpose is? Have you been seeking it out? This is a perfect time and age range for this journey and this moment in your life, when you decide to find your purpose. All of these studies show that we are starting to take our time with the big M's: Moving, Marriage and Multiplying. We’ve all got to start, somewhere right? Justin’s lyrics illustrate his understanding for his purpose and for his life. Justin sings,
“And you bless me with the best gift, that I’ve ever known
You give me purpose, Yeah, you’ve given me purpose”
I guess he’s painted the picture of purpose out really well for us. He’s named it a gift. Imagine waking up and feeling encouraged knowing that you are walking in your gifting, in your purpose. Our lives would look so different! When I made the choice to truly follow my God given purpose, I had to give some things up. You see when you aren’t walking in your purpose, you often become attached to people, places and things, that were never meant for you to be associated with, and or attached to in the first place. People, places and things, are also referred to as nouns. When these specific NOuns are found in “alternative purpose”, well you need to say NO. But now you’ve found alternative purpose in an alternative fact. Don’t be misled and blinded by alternative purpose during this rich and developing time.
In my first blog post, Transition, I briefly explained how I ended up in Raleigh, North Carolina. My new job had a lot to do with it, but God had more. Well, I recently left that job. I had to. So that I can follow the ordained path to my specific purpose. All our paths look different but many of them come with sacrifice, and we are not exempt from suffering. I believe that certain things are kept from us intentionally by design, and that sacrifice and suffering are a blessing in the end.
In addition to the particular version of suffering, I’ve experience in life, I can clearly see how I have been continually led to the discovery of my purpose and how God continues to provide resources along the way. Like we’ve discussed before, resources, or what I love to call provision, comes in many forms. Regardless of the form, you’re able to get to the next day, and the next step in the right direction. While your searching for your purpose, or looking to God for direction, remember to be grateful and humbled by provision and the lessons. Be encouraged and know that, we've all got time and the God's timing is perfect. Make tomorrow a better day than today, and do your best to seek your true purpose. Simply start by asking yourself, "What really makes me happy?" "What am I really good at?" "What do I think about?"
A couple of scriptures that I like to refer to for encouragement about my purpose, and my journey are;
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” Proverbs 19:21
"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace" 2 Timothy 1:9