You are on a special mission planned by God. It’s a good one, even if life is not going as you had planned.

Ever wonder what your purpose is? Or if you even have a purpose?

In her mid-20s at a job she hated, and one bad dating relationship after another, Katie started questioning what purpose — what special mission — God had for her. She had memorized Jeremiah 29:11 as a kid. (This declaration was sent by the prophet to the Hebrew exiles in Babylon. Yet they are a Hallmark favorite for high school graduates.)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV).

Katie believes God is good but was finding out life is hard and full of imperfect people. What difficulties are you facing now? At your workplace? Among family and friends? Have your difficulties led you to wonder about God’s life plan for you?

Katie and I considered her question about God’s purpose for her life. First, we looked at Jesus’ love for her.

Jesus Points the Way 

Jesus understands your hurts. He gets it. He allows your hurts to point you to your special mission,

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:17).

Jesus said this to uppity Pharisees who criticized his choice of imperfect dinner companions. Can you imagine the delight on the faces of the imperfect people gathered around the table to share a meal with Jesus?

He has a plan for your life. It’s your special mission. Every believer has at least one spiritual gift for use to build up his Church, which isn’t a building. The Church is the body of believers you love Jesus. Sometimes God uses tough times to reveal his purpose for you. Sometimes God humbles a saint to help her see, really see.

God is with you. He is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Soak in God’s truth that you are valued, significant, and loved.

My Special Mission

Back in the early 1990s, I didn’t understand these biblical truths. Depression had darkened my mood. Anxiety had rattled my mind too. On top of this tough stuff,  difficult memories jabbed me. Yes, there was my parents’ divorce but something even worse.

How could I tell anyone my pain? Especially women in the church who seemed to have it all together?

Fast forward to 2000, the year of God’s specific call on my life. God whispered to my heart:

“Lucy, comfort my sheep who are hurting with the comfort you’ve received from me.”

“Who me?” I asked

“Trust me, Lucy.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Trust me.”

Knowing Your Own Special Mission

Do you know God’s special mission for you? It’s all planned out.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Yes, he planned these good works for you to do. He matched your giftedness, talents, and personality to the plan he has for you.

When women I counsel want to know God’s plan for them, I encourage them to take a look at their life — especially the tough stuff — because often God turns your brokenness into beauty. What are two or three broken places in your life story?

As Katie and I reviewed her broken places, nothing obvious jumped out. However she said she values order (which is one reason she probably ended up as an administrative assistant), loves family, and deeply desired to live in a warm climate. Together we developed a plan for her to find an administrative-type, family-oriented position in the South.

She updated her resume and filled out online applications — and looked forward to realizing her special mission. I asked her about the changes going on in her heart.

“I feel content,” Katie replied, “even though I don’t know exactly what God has planned. Whatever it is, I know it’ll be good because God is good, right? Walk by faith not by sight — this is what I’ve chosen.”

Question: Do you know God’s special mission for your life? What good works has God given you?

Sharing hope with your heart,