As a mother, I have learnt a lot of things from my kids. One of the lessons is that they enjoy boundaries. They love knowing what is acceptable and they can be free within that space. I have noticed how they are more creative, free and happy when they know what is expected of them.
As children of God, we are more free, creative and happy when we understand who we are and what is expected of us. There is joy in knowing what you can do and understanding your capacity.
Psalms 139: 13 – 16 (ESV):
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
God created you and me uniquely; we have different ideas and different ways of doing things, but we serve the same God. I believe we all have one purpose but different seasons in how that purpose is lived out. It’s the same as the seasons of the year; there is time for Spring and time for Winter, etc. We just need to understand, by reading the Word and letting the Holy Spirit guide us, which season we are in.
We have watched Kung Fu Panda with the kids (many times) like most parents, and the there is a scene in the first movie where they speak about the peach tree. A peach tree will always be a peach tree and when the seed is planted, it will produce peaches. The argument was that you can decide where and when it is planted. This is what God instills in each of us, the when and where! We can only bear the fruit in the season God has created for us. God knows the when and the where, how amazing and comforting is that? All we must do is be obedient and wait on the Lord in every season we find ourselves in.
I was recently reminded by our heavenly Father, that purpose comes from Him. It is in our DNA; we are created with purpose! When you read Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV): And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This is the purpose of every Christian: all of us have been given the mandate to go and share the Word of God with those around us, and beyond. The method may not be same, as we have different giftings. When you think of the tree planted and the fruit that it bears, it is for those around it and not for the tree itself. Our purpose is outward, not inward. This is the same for all of us, but the methods are different. We have been uniquely made by our Father in Heaven and this is to glorify Him! Our uniqueness helps us achieve the Great Commission when we allow the Word of God to be our map and the Holy Spirit to be our voice. As you share the Word with those in your sphere of influence, you are like a tree that bears fruit for others to eat and once they have eaten, the seed inside the fruit is planted so they, too, can bear fruit for others. The process is ongoing: when we are obedient with the fruit that God has blessed us with, then those who benefit from eating it can go and be a blessing to others as well. It is not for us to decide who can eat the fruit from us; only God can decide – all we do is be obedient.
We need to trust that the desires of our hearts come from Jesus Christ and that the passion and gifting or ministry we are a part of is for a reason; don’t doubt your gifts. The Word says that He gives us the desires of our hearts – Psalms 37:4! Let us delight in the Word of God; that is a BIG part of our purpose. You can impact people that others could never reach, as we read in Ephesians 4:11 (ESV): And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Some of us are called to be in the public space, others in the creative arts, others behind the scenes etc. The styles and approaches are different, but the message is the same, as we read in Ephesians 4:12: to make Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, known to the ends of the earth! That is our beautiful purpose.
Understanding purpose is not having it all together, all the time. It is understanding that you have been called and are loved; you were bought with a price and there is a seed that God has planted in you that will benefit others. We need to allow God to use the things that refresh us, give us joy or, as is often described, fill our cups. When you are a creative person, the fruit you bear will be inspired by the things you are passionate about. I love administrating; I find joy in knowing what is planned and what I need to do next. I have found such freedom in allowing God to use my way of thinking to benefit His church and those around me. My purpose is highlighted when I am connecting with my Heavenly Father and letting my passion encourage others.
You are dearly loved, daughter of God! Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Women of Reverence welcomes regular contributor Pinky Hlophe:
A wife to Thulani Hlophe and a mother of two amazing children. I am on the eldership team of FrontLine People Church in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
I am currently in my final year, studying a Bcom Degree in Financial Management through UNISA.
I home-school both my children and just love seeing kids free, be themselves and grow to be who God intended them to be. I love serving in Administration of our local church and passionate about worship ministry.