Isn’t it crazy how we can go on journeys of self-discovery? Why don’t you understand who you are? Do you get to choose what you enjoy doing? Each of us are so complex that someone could study us for years and never stop learning. It’s as if we are uniquely crafted people designed specifically for some unique purpose. Well, we are. And God isn’t some evil slave driver trying to force you to do something. He invites us to follow him as he leads us to the calling that fits us and our desires so well it’s as if it was made for us.
I hope that by reading this post you will find confidence in being the child of God that you are. That you will be able to thank and praise God for making you who you are, rather than feeling bad about yourself because you aren’t as skilled as someone else.
Our Desires
I didn’t get to choose to like storytelling, it was part of a packaged deal when my parents brought me into this world. They got me and my love for storytelling, writing, ultimate frisbee, adventure etc. And it’s the same with you.
Sure we can craft our desires, but some things we just don’t have control over. Why do I dislike coffee? Why can’t I just enjoy cooking? And somethings we are just naturally better at than others.
Sometimes it’s easy to think we are failures because we just can’t measure up to others in certain ways. I felt this way compared to my two older brothers who always seemed way cooler, funnier, more athletic, and better looking than me. It’s true that I was a terrible version of my brothers, but that’s because I’m not a version of my brothers. I’m me.
And I’m me because God specifically made me this way.
God Planted These Desires in Your Heart
As overused as it may sound, God intentionally made you special. He didn’t just sneeze on a canvas and name it Jason or Hannah. No, he placed each and every desire in your heart thinking: “One day, I’ll use this skill in Jason to bring life to hundreds, and he’ll feel so fulfilled by doing it.”
That’s how God works. He gave you these desires to use them to bring life to you and those you reach. It’s a win, win, win. If you are feeling insecure, please take some time right now to dwell on the fact that God made you unique for a reason. He didn’t mess up making you with the quirks you have. I believed this lie for too long, and I want you to know that you are loved. God knows you better than anyone else, and if he was the team captain, he’d pick you first. How amazing is it that he died for you even while you were messing up and failing (Romans 5:8). If he’s willing to die for you when you were at your worst, how could he ever stop loving for you and rooting you on?
God wants to use you
God doesn’t manipulate us into doing what he wants. He crafts you and guides you for your own good and the good of others. Isn’t that great news? This means you don’t have to try to be the next Tim Tebow or Billy Graham. You can be you and trust that, as you follow God faithfully, he will maximize your joy and impact.
Now, let me make this clear. I’m not promising riches, fame, comfort, or dreams coming true. These may come, but don’t count on it. Those are worldly standards of success. I can promise true success: seeing changed lives, experiencing a rich and rewarding life with Christ, and deep peace and joy that will last through even the hardest situations. You will indeed see lots of dreams come true, but probably not all of them. This is because often times we have selfish dreams that could be better described as temptations.
What are your desires?
This is all great to know, but it doesn’t help you much if you don’t know what you like. And this is where the fun begins. God wants you to do the things you like doing. Of course, these must be holy and pure things. I’m not suggesting you dive into immorality, greed, or slothfulness.
However in order to grow, we also need to step out of our comfort zones. Do things even if you don’t think you will like it. Either you will discover something new you like, or you will learn more about what you don’t like and why you don’t like it. It’s fun if you think about it as discovering the unique way God wired you. Don’t worry about what others think, say, or do. Try the things you think you will fail at, because you are testing out the superpowers God’s given you. Keep the mindset of being God’s child testing out the heart, mind, and body he gave you like it’s a new Christmas present.
Investigate what you enjoy doing. As you do it and other things like it, you will narrow down the search to see what you truly like. Of course we all like so many things, so it’s an unending search to discover everything you enjoy and exactly what is that you enjoy about it. But it’s a fun journey, and it’s a path God wants you to walk down.
What do you think? What are your desires? Please comment below.
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If you’d like to read more about the mission God calls us all too, check out The Only Noble War
If you are having a hard time trusting that God wants your best, check out 5 Reasons Why You Can Trust God
Reading this reminded me of a specific passage from the Imitation of Christ called Accepting Slander, which is as follows:
“Child, do not be destroyed if some people don’t like you and say unfair things about you. If your soul is well ordered, you wont pay much attention to flying words.
It is great wisdom to keep silent when damaging words are spoken to you. Turn your attention to me and don’t worry about rumor and slander.
Don’t look for support from the mouths of others. You are who you are regardless of what they say. And you shall know much peace if you neither try to please them, nor care if you displease them.”
I share this because pursuing your self comes with the cost of not pursuing a life other than your own, and sometimes it requires an adjustment or a cutting off of things that are not your own to be able to fully embrace who you are and who you are called to be. Letting go of the small and minor good things in your life to be able to fully grasp and cling onto the greater thing which is your life with Christ.
Exactly! Thank you so much for sharing! I’ll have to check out that book! I’m glad this post could encourage you!
God Sent someone to start helping me discover myself in Chicago a few years ago. Knowing What it means to be me has really helped me so much. there was a book that I read last quarter called “teaching social skills To Students With visual impairment, from theory to practice”, which was the main textbook required for one of my classes. I mention this title because chapter 5 of this book was about discovery of self identity and how the individual would fit into society with blind and cited people alike, and Reading it As I sat enjoying the sun was So powerful because it was like being told verbatim what I was told in Chicago That lead to discovering me. God used this younger person to start figuring me out, and I subsequently look up to this future teacher of special education as someone who really knows themselves and how they interact with society, and how they patiently persist in intensely knowing other individuals for who they are, rather than who they are perceived to be. Normally a really quiet person in classroom discussions Unless I’m really comfortable with the material, the teacher was quite impressed at the extent of my discussion in class that day. I received high marks for the discussion and, for the first time in what seemed like forever, felt confident in my contribution to the discussion surrounding chapter 5. I encourage you to find and read that textbook, especially the chapter 5 entirely.
I’ve missed seeing you at church, hoping everything is OK and to see you in the near future.
Thank you for your thoughts! What an amazing thing that you’ve been able to discover yourself and learn how God made you unique! God certainly has a great plan for you!