Micah 6:8

I continue to catch myself asking "what's next?". Each season since before high school has had a "next step", except this one. The "next step" after high school may not have been the same step for all of us, but we all had the same choices- college, tech school, or work. That was "simple" enough. The happy twenty-something phase is a little more complicated. It's hard to just choose to get married; and stepping into a career typically does not happen over night- Some do foreign missions, but what if that isn't where you feel lead?

Are those of us who are single, still searching for the "perfect" job, and living on American soil somehow less fulfilled?

Of course not! I'm learning so much about "purpose" in the day to day. But it's not in the popular way that the word "purpose" is used. In my opinion, the word "purpose" is a little misunderstood. A wise friend once pointed out to me that purpose is not an exclusive thing, like saying, "what's your purpose in life?". God has placed you where you are to live each day for His glory. Sure, there are gifts, talents, and passions that steer our lives a certain direction, but we can't get so caught up in the big picture of our lives that we forget to live the "daily grind" for His Glory. For Example, I am passionate about the plight of women/girls- spiritually and physically- broken or whole. I get excited talking about abortion prevention, abstinence education, singleness, marriage, and ect. I want to be a wife and a mom. These areas are the big picture of my life. At this point in my life I am involved in some areas I'm passionate about, but not all of them. I'm not giving my life to some of the things I would like to, but I know that I'm where God has me right now.

So I think, "what if I die tomorrow?". Have I lived each day to bring glory to His name? Did I point people to Him? Did I produce fruit where I was planted, or did I complain about not knowing my "purpose" in life? At that point, I won't be able to change anything; instead, I will be standing before my God giving an account of my life.

Don't get me wrong, we should fully throw ourselves into our passions. They are there because God is creative and He takes pleasure in using his people (Eph 2:10). But we can't forget that God has a will that we don't always understand (Isaiah 55:9). He has known everyday you will live before you lived even one second (Psalm 139)- that includes the days that leave us wondering, "what's next?".

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

In His Love,
Jennifer

P.S. I know this topic keeps finding it's way in my post. I guess it's just on my mind.