Have you ever thought to yourself, “there’s got to be something else”?

Or maybe you have felt that there was something else you could be/should be doing- something more fulfilling? More kingdom-driven? Something with more intentionality?

Sometimes these feelings or questions come from a place of selfishness, wondering “what’s the next big thing for me!?” Hoping to elevate your status, your income bracket, your social circle, your fame…

Other times these feelings and questions come from discontentment, impatience or worry.

You’re tired of waiting for things to come to fruition so you take matters into your own hands, mustering up your own efforts of purpose and fulfillment.

Striving Kills the Blessing

I get it! Embarrassingly I have found myself in this very scenario more times than I care to admit, and unfortunately, usually from a place of discontentment and impatience.

I get tired of waiting so I create my own purpose and intention. Or I get a few pats on the back like, “wow, you’re great at this…” so I keep striving for more. More attention. More compliments. More purpose.

Well, if you need to hear this like I did…

This is NOT what God intended for us. Not for me. And not for you.

He does not want me (or you) striving for acceptance of others. He does not want us feeling trapped or hard-pressed on every side. He does not want us to take matters into our own hands, hoping our efforts will produce success or purpose.

I touched on this in my Self-Love post. When we put faith in ourselves, other people, or someTHING, it’s always going to be less than the full blessing the Lord has for us. Every single time.

But God, He wants us to live in peace and love, trusting Him for His provision of our lives.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

You and I can make all the plans we want. We can work and work and work to get “all the things” but unless we’re working for the Lord, walking in His will for our life, it’s not going to work. It’s not going to succeed to the magnitude that God can provide if it isn’t in His will for you (or me).

Furthermore, it’s not going to bring the fruit He desires for us and for those around us. It’s not going to fill a gap that you (or I) think needs to be filled.

(Side note: Have you ever considered the purpose of a fruit tree? Read what the Lord enlightened me to. Post coming soon.)

So, what are we meant for? Is there something we’re missing?

Let’s take a look…

Blessing in Submission

Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:17-20, [I love using inclusive language when reading this text, it makes it feel more personal and relevant to right now]:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give [me] the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that [I] may know him better. I pray that the eyes of [my] heart may be enlightened in order that [I] may know the hope to which he has called [me], the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

According to the Word, we are meant for something way more!

We are meant for a life of intention and purpose. A life of hope. A life of power. A life lived for God, not ourselves.

This power that Paul speaks of isn’t something we muster up on our own. This kind of power is given to us after one crucial act of obedience and humility.

When we believe that through Jesus’ birth, death, burial and resurrection we can be saved; and we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:10-13) we will be saved! And when we accept Jesus as our Savior, Act 1:8 tells us that “…you [I] will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you [me].”

This power given through the Holy Spirit equips us who believe to be His witnesses; to tell people everywhere (in our sphere of influence and connection) about God and His majesty!

You and I were meant for something more, in Christ!

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Friends, we have been given a responsibility, planned for us long ago by our Heavenly Father, to live this life for Him. To be more than what we can be on our own.

It’s no coincidence you were born in this time of history. You are chosen. It’s not coincidence your child(ren) were chosen in this historical time of life. Your child(ren) are chosen by God to be here right now. We all have a purpose in bringing His Kingdom to earth. We have been chosen for a time such as this for His Kingdom work.

“…I have chosen you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)

Are you living in the Power and with the intensity that God has something more for you? Are you allowing His power through the Holy Spirit to move in you to reach those around you? Are you submitting to His Will? Are you hearing and listening to that still small voice?

Blessing in Discipline

I haven’t done an excellent job at this. But I’m getting better.

About five months ago, I surrendered to what the Lord was speaking to me in His mightily small voice. I had heard Him speaking for some time, but I finally chose to submit. I was worn to the bone. Weary from trying to sustain a business I am now learning wasn’t meant to be in the capacity that it was (yet).

I had often stated, “The Lord has undoubtedly blessed the steps in getting Munchkinz Bakery here!” And while I still stand by that, I don’t think He failed, I believe He allowed me the desires of my heart to teach me these very valuable lessons of purpose, self-love, and contentment.

God gives us free will. He gives us choices, everyday. Choices to follow Him or to follow our “flesh” or our desires.

In my pursuit of my desires, I found myself weary, worn, frustrated, confused, and frankly, angry, from a long two years of following my desires.

I clung to the memories of what it took for us to get to the place of opening the business- the business planning, the loan-seeking, the remodeling, the hiring and training of employees, the growth of the Bakery… but even in the success of the Bakery, everything else was in utter chaos.

God doesn’t function in chaos. “God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Cor. 14:33)

Our family, our personal finances, our faith in Christ, our friendships… none of that was functioning from a place of peace.

I am learning, if I (and if you) want to live with the tenacity that God has given me something special to live for, I must quiet my own pursuits and submit to His provision. I’ve got to let Him lead.

I have to trust Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your won understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Prov. 3:5-12)

“Trust” in this passage means to trust in, to have confidence in, to be bold and secure in. It’s a verb. Therefore trusting the Lord requires an action from us as we walk in confidence of who God is and what He says to be truth in our lives. If He says we need to stop doing something- we need to act. If He says we need to begin doing something- we need to act.

We are meant for more, God says it to be true. My prayer is that we may walk in the confidence of His blessed assurance. There’s nothing better.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8)

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