Purpose

• Printable Version - Share on Facebook - Posted by Sunnie McPhetres March 14, 2015 - Filed in Christian - #  #God's will  #God's purpose  #discernment  - 699 views

  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

  Setting goals is good thing right? The child care program that I work in values longevity. When I am interviewing people who would like to work in our program, I often ask, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” They always have an answer. I also always had goals: lose 50 pounds in a year, go to grad school, travel often, maintain my home, become a licensed minister – all worthy goals, but they are my goals, not God’s.

  When my husband and I first married (19 years ago) we had a five year plan, a ten year plan, and an eternity plan. We never even made it to the five year mark before he was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and our lives were turned upside down. We discovered that we could no longer make long range plans, we have to take life one day at a time and rely on God to see us through. We never know what the next day will bring and we are trying to learn to be okay with that.

  There have been times when my goals became my god. For example: I decided to lose weight and I put a plan in place to reach that goal and I obsessed about my weight and what I could and could not eat. Notice that I did it all. It didn’t work because I was focused on the goal and what I could do rather than focusing on what God would have me do for His purpose. Now, I thank God every day for giving me the perfect body and the perfect life for me today. And guess what! Now that I have reestablished my focus on God, I lost 50 pounds in six months! He did better than I had planned for myself!

  I still don’t know how my husband’s illness and consequent total disability play into God’s purpose, but I don’t need to know. I only need to trust Him and rely on him as my strength one day at a time.