Unlocking Your Purpose: How Connection and Faith Can Transform Your Life!
Photo & Story by Ken Hulsey
As a Christian, are you required to be perfect? No, of course not. It also doesn't give you an excuse to indulge in unhealthy behavior either. How do you get the balance right?
Life will throw you curve balls, place hurdles and pitfalls in your path. There is a way to navigate around and over these issues that can strengthen you and ultimately lead you to a purpose for your life that will be better than you could ever imagine!
It's been said a gazillion times, "You don't know what you have until it's gone." That phrase has always been attributed to a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife. Still, it could also apply to simple things like shelter, running water, electricity, or even a nice mountain view. The key is not to take these things for granted.
Do you feel alone in a crowded room? Do you feel like you just don't fit in? Don't believe those lies!!! Connecting with others takes courage, but it's worth the risk! Connection is the key to a better life.
Sometimes God needs to get your attention, and to do that, He sends a messenger with the words you need to hear.
One day, I learned a valuable lesson about judging people. A person is not always as they seem. Appearances are misleading because people are unique and complex. You never know what someone's back story contains.
We all go through periods in our lives where things look and feel hopeless. Nobody said life would be easy. Trials are as certain as sunsets, but sunrise is equally as certain. There is hope. There is always hope! The trick is learning how to unlock that hope.
Related: Lost But Not Alone: A Journey Through Pain That Led Me Back to God
When God taps someone for greatness, he doesn't choose the strongest, the smartest, or the most attractive person. He's not looking for perfect people. He's looking for someone just like you. Someone with flaws, someone with fears, someone with self-doubt. The heroes of the Bible were just like you. God sees our potential, even when we don't see it.
We all go through different seasons in our lives. Sometimes we are on fire. Sometimes we are ice cold. Sometimes we embrace the positive. Sometimes we are full of doubt. How do we navigate these hills and valleys in our lives? Faith is the key to navigation. It's the glue that holds it all together, even when you don't have it together.
The great philosopher Ferrris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
In the Bible, there are numerous stories of God performing grand miracles. He parted the Red Sea so his people could pass through unharmed. That must have been quite a sight! A lot of us keep expecting God to perform some sort of spectacle in our lives. We assume that He should speak directly to us from a burning tree or a massive thundercloud. He has done that for others in the past, but most of the time God works as a "behind-the-scenes" guy. There may not be any pyrotechnics, but He is there, working on our behalf. You may not be able to see it yet, but at the right time, you will experience the blessing He has for you.
When God taps someone for greatness, he doesn't choose the strongest, the smartest, or the most attractive person. He's not looking for perfect people. He's looking for someone just like you. Someone with flaws, someone with fears, someone with self-doubt. The heroes of the Bible were just like you. God sees our potential, even when we don't see it.
We all go through different seasons in our lives. Sometimes we are on fire. Sometimes we are ice cold. Sometimes we embrace the positive. Sometimes we are full of doubt. How do we navigate these hills and valleys in our lives? Faith is the key to navigation. It's the glue that holds it all together, even when you don't have it together.
The great philosopher Ferrris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
In the Bible, there are numerous stories of God performing grand miracles. He parted the Red Sea so his people could pass through unharmed. That must have been quite a sight! A lot of us keep expecting God to perform some sort of spectacle in our lives. We assume that He should speak directly to us from a burning tree or a massive thundercloud. He has done that for others in the past, but most of the time God works as a "behind-the-scenes" guy. There may not be any pyrotechnics, but He is there, working on our behalf. You may not be able to see it yet, but at the right time, you will experience the blessing He has for you.
The emotions of anger and insecurity can have long-lasting impacts on our lives and relationships. Learning how to control and ultimately master these emotions is crucial for personal growth and a healthier life. You are not powerless. There are ways to take control of your emotions.
The light is known by many names—God, the Holy Spirit, the Creator—but its essence is the same: a force of pure love and wisdom that can heal our wounds, dissolve our fears, and lead us to a life of purpose and joy. All we have to do is turn toward it, open ourselves to its presence, and trust in its guidance. In the end, it is this light that will lead us home, back to the truth of who we really are.
Throughout history, there have been many empires. Societies that reached amazing advances in science and art. They made great discoveries and improved the quality of life for their people. However, and unfortunately, these empires were not benevolent. The one thing that all of these empires have in common is that they no longer exist, at least not in the same capacity that they once existed. What happened to them? Strangely, in all cases, their societies all broke down, and chaos brought their downfall. They abandoned their faith, abandoned their morals, abandoned their honored traditions, and abandoned law and order. Greed, corruption, and power eroded their government. The desire for personal pleasure, wealth, and gluttony corrupted the people. It all broke down, and eventually they were defeated by their rivals. Look around at society today, take an honest assessment of things. What does our government stand for? What are the things society treasures most? History has always repeated itself. I urge you to think about these things today.
Fear, we all have it. It is probably the greatest influence in life. Fear can be overwhelming or subtle; regardless, it's a factor in everyone's life. It's a giant negative motivation that prevents people from reaching their potential. Fear of failure. It's the number one thing that prevents people from attempting things that could enrich their lives in profound ways. I had a terrible fear of public speaking. Then one day, I was called to lead a small group at church. That was something way out of my comfort zone. Honestly, who am I kidding? Talking in front of people gave me level 10 anxiety. Long story short, I led that small group that morning, then another morning, and another morning. Today, I love speaking in public. It's something that has opened new career doors for me. God took a weakness and turned it into a strength. All I had to do was trust God (that means pray a lot) and take that step. It wasn't easy, far from it, but it was worth the risk, upset stomach, and shaking knees. I wonder what other wonderful things fear has held me back from experiencing? Is fear holding you back from reaching your full potential? Holding you back from love and happiness?
Related: Finding Strength in Connection: Embracing Hope in Life's Challenges
Where do you find your self-worth? Do you look for validation from your spouse, friends, coworkers, or society in general? Do you feel like you are constantly jumping through hoops trying to fulfill expectations projected onto you by others? Everyone does to some extent. Finding true emotional security comes from a relationship with God. He knows who you really are and what your purpose in life truly is.
Where do you find your self-worth? Do you look for validation from your spouse, friends, coworkers, or society in general? Do you feel like you are constantly jumping through hoops trying to fulfill expectations projected onto you by others? Everyone does to some extent. Finding true emotional security comes from a relationship with God. He knows who you really are and what your purpose in life truly is.
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