Category: Motivation

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The Danger of a Single Story: Seeing People as God Views Them

forgiveness and understandingThe Trap of a Single Story

Have you ever been judged for just one mistake? A single weak moment that tainted an entire relationship. We’ve all been caught in someone else’s narrow story of us. We live in a world where it’s easy to judge quickly. One incident, word, or first impression can define our whole story. Scripture reminds us that people are more than the single stories we see.

1 Samuel 16:7, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Look at the lives of these four prominent characters that ultimately crafted the narrative of the Bible:

Rahab the Prostitute (Joshua 2; Matthew 1:5)

To Jericho, she was considered a prostitute. She was not only a woman in a male-dominated society, but her profession placed her on the fringes of civilized behavior. Yet, in God’s eyes, she was a woman of faith who sheltered spies and was a part of the Messiah’s family tree. A single story of sin was not her final story.

Like Rahab, Moses’ story demonstrates that one failure doesn’t invalidate God’s calling.

Moses the Murderer (Exodus 2; Acts 7)

Moses fled into the wilderness after killing an Egyptian. He lived a shepherd’s life, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. God rewrote his story: deliverer, prophet, lawgiver. The first impression did not define his purpose.

The story of Peter reminds us that even repeated mistakes can be redeemed.

Peter the Denier (Luke 22; John 21)

Peter was a mess. After three years of learning from Jesus, he still did not understand. Most remember him for denying Jesus three times. However, Jesus forgave him: “Feed my sheep.” He became the rock of the early church.

Paul began as an enforcer of the anti-Christ movement, but he was still part of God’s plan to redeem humanity.

Paul the Persecutor (Acts 9)

This is probably the most incredible story of all. Despite Paul’s career choices, God understood his heart. We know his early history of threatening Christians. He even held the cloaks of those who stoned Stephen. God transformed him into one of the greatest missionaries and writers in the New Testament. God’s story of grace replaced his backstory of violence.

The Problem with Partial Information

As humans, our understanding is limited by the physical world around us. The way we perceive life is shaped by our experiences and the constraints of the world around us. However, God is not bound by the physical laws He created; He is not constrained by the flow of time. We see moments. God sees lifetimes. We see a chapter. God sees the entire book. Not only that, but it is His story being told by Himself. Nothing is new or unknown.

“The proof of love is the willingness to listen.” – Mike Murdock.

When we face a hostile interaction, the outbursts or failures often stem from hidden causes like wounds, fears, or past experiences. There’s a story behind it waiting to be told. Those who offend us are often just trying to be understood. It is during those moments that we, as Christians, have an opportunity to reflect Christ. This is our chance to listen to their story.

James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

How God Calls Us to Respond

Look beyond the surface; do not let labels or single events define people in your mind. Ask yourself: What might God still be writing in their story? God uses every moment to shape us into the individuals He wants us to become. This interaction is not accidental. It is not just about them. It is meant to shape you. So, the first question is: What do You, God, want me to learn from this?

God calls us to extend grace to others as Christ did. Jesus saw potential in the Samaritan woman at the well, while others only saw shame. He offered her living water, not condemnation. He looked beyond the immediate encounter toward eternity. When emotions run high, can we look past the moment and focus on eternity?

The best approach is to let them tell their whole story. Giving them space to vent decreases tension and helps you gather your thoughts and calm your emotions. It also allows you to understand the background and the true origin of the interaction.

Remember how God writes new chapters in your life and the lives of others.

Practical Application

In business: Do not dismiss someone after a failure.

In ministry: Do not judge a seeker based on their past life.

Within family: Remember that even those who stumble can rise again by God’s grace.

Everyone’s story is never truly complete until God brings it to a close. Do not settle for just chapter one or even chapter ten. Trust that He is weaving redemption, even when all you see is brokenness. The danger of a single story is that it leaves no room for grace. However, God’s story always offers space for redemption.

Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

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To A Warrior Princess, My Undying Gratitude

Warrior PrincessTo my warrior princess, you know who you are. You have changed my life for the better and challenged me to be greater.

Yesterday I talked with a friend from Kyrgyzstan. She is only in her 20s—beautiful, intelligent, and motivated. A Christian, she recently moved alone to another Central Asian country to start a ministry that reflects her faith. She is a warrior for the Kingdom of God. She will make a difference in the world around her.

Romans 10:14-15, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard, and how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” 

I Stand in Awe.

I stand in awe. The courage. The confidence. The selflessness. All gifts from God’s hand. And I wonder—what could my life have been like if, in my 20s, I had lived with that same boldness?

But here’s the truth: God creates each life uniquely. No purpose is more important than another. Impact doesn’t determine worth. God knows exactly what He is doing.

We are all created with purpose. Whether we cross borders to sow seeds of faith or quietly support a neighbor who feels overlooked, both leave a mark in eternity.

I am an engineer and a computer scientist at heart. Words are not my first language, they do reflect my experiences. Over the years, I’ve met people who will never have the material advantages I’ve had, yet they possess something far greater.

It’s a relentless determination to make a difference—a fire that cannot be bought or taught. It humbles me. I realize how insignificant my own achievements are compared to their faith, courage, and sacrifice.

Gifts

They remind me that God distributes gifts in different ways. He gives some people resources and others resilience. He calls some to build and others to go. Yet He invites all of us to make a difference where we are.

1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

No act is greater than another. Every gift counts. Every act of obedience echoes through eternity

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Where Were You?

Where Were YouWhere were you when My children were being murdered, raped, and starved? I gave you talents, resources, relationships, opportunities, and passion. I placed you in a world where you could flourish. As My chosen, I fed you, protected you, and surrounded you with abundance. And when My children cried out in need—where were you?

Isaiah 58:10, “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”

The World Groans

The world groans under the weight of evil. This message is not for the lost, but for the found— for those whom God has blessed with safety, wealth, and comfort so they might care for those who have none. But we, the protected, have grown numb. We live such entitled lives that we fail to see the purpose behind the blessings God has poured upon us. We chase comfort, not calling; we protect our way of life instead of protecting life itself.

Luke 12:33, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail…”

One day, when judgment arrives—and it will—I fear we will hear God’s voice echoing through eternity: “Where were you?” He will cry that His people—those He trusted with resources and influence—used them for comfort instead of compassion. They followed culture rather than Christ. They built bigger houses, bought faster cars, and stored up treasures on earth while His children went hungry.

The World At Large

Imagine being born into a world where a warlord raped your mother, where, as a child, you were forced to kill strangers, and where your sister died of hunger while you watched helplessly. You never knew love, never felt safety, never heard laughter that wasn’t born of cruelty. You look up at the same night sky we do, and you ask, “If there is a God of love, where is He?” And God cries out once more, “Where were you, My chosen people?”

Colossians 3:12, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

We send missionaries who talk about love, but the hungry wonder, “Where is it?” We parachute into their pain, bringing gifts and good intentions, then retreat to our comforts, convinced we’ve made a difference. Yet, all too often, we leave behind only disappointment— hope that flickered for a moment and then faded. They stay, still hungry, still hurting, still asking where God is— while we scroll, shop, and sleep peacefully.

Mark 10:21-22, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Where Were You?

1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Many faithful believers will one day stand before their Maker, expecting crowns and jewels, but instead meet a tearful God who asks, “Where were you when My people suffered?” Jesus said the poor will always be among us—not merely because the world is broken, but because He knew our comfort would be too precious to sacrifice.

“Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God.” — Rick Warren

So I challenge you: Travel to a place where the world is harsh and hope is fragile. Don’t go to preach—go to listen. Sit with them. Hear their stories. See the image of God in faces marked by suffering. Ask yourself what your life might have been if you were born in their village, not yours.

James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

If you do, and you truly listen, you’ll never see the night sky the same way again. You will understand why God still asks, “Where were you?”

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Are You in a Storm?

Great Storms Great BeautyIs today, this week, or this year overwhelming? Do you feel trapped, searching for a way out? We all face storms. Some are caused by our choices, while others are thrust upon us. The winds rage, the rains wash away what we cherish, and darkness presses in. Worst of all, it seems like the storm will never end. That is Satan’s lie. He wants us to believe there’s no way forward.

Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Your Life Is Priceless

Your life has priceless value. You bear the image of God Himself (Genesis 1:27). He designed you with gifts, passions, and potential that no storm can erase. The world and its voices try to diminish you, to reduce you to comparisons, trends, or failures. But God created you for eternity.

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”

I understand what it feels like to live in despair, weighed down by unmet expectations. The world claims that this moment of pain defines us — but it doesn’t. God has placed within each of us a unique design. Even our weaknesses are part of His plan, not to erase but to reshape for His glory.

When storms make you feel abandoned, remember: you are set apart, loved, and created for good works. God’s light in you is greater than the storm.

Romans 12:6, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

Your Calling

Your calling isn’t to become someone else’s definition of greatness, but to discover the greatness already inside you. Stop paying attention to the storm and start listening to the One who created you.

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”

The way forward isn’t about self-promotion; it’s about serving others. When we invest in others, God’s love flows through us. Helping someone else helps us discover who He created us to be. That’s when storms lose their strength.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And storms don’t last forever. Change the world, be the storm.

“Be the storm that’s relentless, not the one that passes by and is forgotten.” – Maya Angelou

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What If You Quit Before the 41st Day?

enduring until the 41st dayTroubles Are Inevitable

The Bible makes it clear: we will face troubles. Troubles are the natural result of a fallen world. Some come because of our faith—the world does not readily accept God’s Word. Others are self-inflicted, born of our own sinful actions.

No matter the source, everyone faces difficulties and setbacks. Yet Scripture assures us that our struggles are not unique—and that God will always provide a way to endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

That which is bitter to endure may be sweet to remember. – Thomas Fuller

The Biblical Pattern of 40 Days

Throughout Scripture, the number 40 marks a season of testing, waiting, or trial. But what comes after is just as important. On the 41st day, God’s faithfulness is revealed.

  • It rained for 40 days—and on the 41st day, the rain stopped.
    Genesis 7:12
  • Moses was on the mountain 40 days—and on the 41st day, he received the Ten Commandments. – Exodus 34:28
  • Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days—and on the 41st day, David struck him down. – 1 Samuel 17:16
  • Jonah preached to Nineveh for 40 days—and on the 41st day, God spared the city. – Jonah 3:4
  • Jesus fasted 40 days—and on the 41st day, the devil fled. – Matthew 4:1–2
  • After His resurrection, Jesus appeared for 40 days—and on the 41st day, He ascended to Heaven. – Acts 1:3

The pattern is clear: God shows up when the trial has run its course. Day 41 always comes.

Don’t Quit Before the Breakthrough

The psalmist reminds us:

Psalm 46:1–2, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

The rain will stop. The giant will fall. Redemption will come. But you must not give up on Day 40.

Your “40 days” may not be literal. It might last hours, weeks, or even years. But the principle remains: God is faithful, and His breakthrough is certain.

Your Personal Day 41

The question is: Do you have enough faith to believe it? Are you so deep in the storm that you can’t imagine an end—or do you trust the God who created the universe, who sent His Son for your salvation, and who promises never to leave you?

Day 41 is coming. Will you endure until it arrives?

Faith That Endures

The heroes of faith in Hebrews knew this truth.

Hebrews 11:35–39. “Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning,  sawn in two, and killed by the sword. Many went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. Others wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.”

They endured without seeing the fullness of God’s promise—yet they were commended for their faith. How much more should we endure, knowing Christ has already secured the victory?

The Final Challenge

Don’t give up on Day 40. Trust that God is already at work. The storm will pass, the giant will fall, and your Day 41 is near. Stay faithful—because God always is.

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Cain and Abel: Effort vs. Obedience

Cain’s Offering: Effort and Achievement

Cain offered God the fruits of his effort. He cleared the land of rocks and thorns, plowed the soil, planted, watered, fertilized, and protected his crops. His offering was the result of sweat, discipline, and hard work.

Abel’s Offering: Trust and Obedience

Abel, meanwhile, brought the firstborn of his flock. He couldn’t control how the sheep grew or multiplied. He simply cared for them, led them to pasture, and trusted God with the rest. His offering wasn’t about effort—it was about obedience.

Hosea 6:6, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

The Contrast Between Effort and Obedience

That’s the difference: Cain gave what he produced. Abel gave what God provided.

We often adopt Cain’s mindset. We take pride in what we do “for God”—such as attending church, participating in small groups, going on mission trips, being generous, and involved in ministry. We count conversions, hours served, and dollars given. We create spiritual scorecards and secretly hope God is impressed.

But what He really desires is obedience.

“If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.” – Henry Blackaby

Cain’s Reaction and God’s Judgment

When God rejected Cain’s offering, Cain became bitter. He felt ignored, even though he had worked harder than his brother. He wanted acknowledgment, but instead he heard these words:

Genesis 4:11 – 12, “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground… When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

The skills Cain relied on became his source of frustration. The same thing happens to us. When we seek recognition through our efforts, our work can feel empty. Success might come, but our souls remain unsatisfied.

The Peace of Abel’s Path

Matthew 12:7, “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.”

Abel’s path appears different. Obedience brings clarity and peace. Those who walk in it know their identity and purpose. They don’t judge worth by results but by faithfulness. They understand that it is God—not them—who produces fruit and transforms lives.

God Works in the Small Moments

1 John 2:3-4, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

I believe God encounters us in the moments, not the milestones. He isn’t waiting to see if we cross the finish line first or win the trophy. He’s focused on the next step we take. Do we trust Him enough to obey, even when it feels small or unseen?

What looks like a “participation trophy” to us can mean everything to Him. It demonstrates consistency, trust, and obedience—faith lived out in everyday life.

Living It Out Today

So don’t worry about outworking everyone else. Focus on out-trusting them. Master the small acts of obedience God places before you. Leave the results in His hands.

Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”

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He Saved You So You Can Experience All These Promises

Saved for small things of great valueHe saved you so you could do all these things. Mathew said it to Mary in an episode of The Chosen. He reminded her that, regardless of her iniquities, she mattered to God and others. It reminded me of a story from my own life. The idea that my voice could echo through eternity haunts me. I’m captivated by the thought that I might say something so meaningful that at least one person would pass it on. I don’t believe I possess that much wisdom; luckily for me, Christ does.

Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

The First Things

It made me reflect on one of the pivotal moments in my life and gave me hope. In the early nineteen-eighties, I was a gym rat. The way I handled my anxiety was by pushing myself to my physical limit so that my brain would quiet down. The pain and exhaustion would overpower my anxiety, and for a while, I would feel normal. I wasn’t a Christian then, I was an insecure, driven, hot mess. My expectations was set too high, and I was failing myself.

As God would have it, He intervened. I developed myopia while running, I would get tunnel vision that caused me to stop until it went away, then I would start running again. I mentioned this to a cardiologist I played racquetball with. He suggested I see him. I did. That visit led me through a maze of tests over nine months, culminating in a trip to the emergency room. Charles, my cardiologist, got out of bed at two in the morning to check on me. While we were talking, my heart stopped. The next thing I remember is Charles in a white mask telling me it was going to be OK.

Isaiah 65:23, “They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.”

The Next Thing

“Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, we see lives change for the good, nations change for the better, thieves become honest, alcoholics become sober, hateful individuals become channels of love, and unjust persons embrace justice.” – Josh McDowell.

Fast forward several years and a few pacemakers later, Charles retired from medicine. The note I wrote to him was about his echo. At that time, the idea of having an echo hadn’t taken hold. But if Charles had never gotten out of bed at two in the morning, I might not be alive. I am sure I am one of the many lives he has saved. Each one has a purpose and a mission to expand God’s kingdom. Some answer the call, others ignore it. But those who do are part of Charles’s echo. People he will never see, conversions he will never know, on this side of heaven.

Psalm 103:17-18, “But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the Lord extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.”

I chose to embrace Christianity. Surprisingly, not because of my near-death experience, which should have been enough, but because of my anxiety. I have been involved in multiple ministries, sharing the gospel with many different people. Every one of these is credited to Charles. It is his echo. Without him, they may never have happened. God saved Charles so he could do these things, and He saved me so I could do them too. He also saved you so you might do the things He has for you.

Your Thing

God has forgiven our sins. He is glorified whenever we do anything in His name. We are alive in this moment because He has a plan for us. The plan He has for us involves the plans He has for others. That is our echo. We each have that potential. Doing the little things right creates the big events of the future. Matthew was right; we exist to glorify Christ, and if He woke you up today, He is not done with you. Shout into the abyss and start an echo.

Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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He Said ‘Come’—So He Did, and Everything Changed

The man in the middleBecause the man on the middle cross said I could come, that is what the thief might have said when standing before God. He didn’t mention Bible studies or mission trips. Acceptance wasn’t guaranteed by theology or learning; it was guaranteed because one man said he could come. That man was the representation of our living God. He was part of the Trinity, and He died so that we may live.

Romans 11:33-34, Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has become His counselor?

We complicate salvation. It becomes a mystical and complex mix of rules and actions. We shape it into something we should do or say, fitting what Christ did on the cross into a set of beliefs and standards that reflect our understanding of human behavior. Christians cannot escape cause and effect. Everything has a cost we must pay, even when we know it’s not nearly enough.

Greatest Generation

My dad taught me early on that anything worth having is worth working for. He believed that the value we assign to what we own is directly related to the sacrifice it takes to get it. He was part of the “Greatest Generation” that gave everything for our freedom during World War II. They knowingly and intentionally stormed the beaches of Normandy. Forty-four thousand twenty-seven soldiers died that day taking that beach. Sacrifice was a core part of who he was.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

We attach a human cost to every action and reaction. Humans are not capable of thinking outside of their experiences. Even our fantasies are grounded in experience.  Our imagination is a composite of various sights and sounds from our past. How can we be expected to understand true grace as demonstrated on the cross?

The Thief

Luke 23:41, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

The thief didn’t have time to consider theology. His sin overwhelmed him and led him to hang beside Jesus. Nailed to a cross, he was unable to do good deeds or show kindness. It was too late to read or debate God’s word. All the efforts we made to secure our place among the believers who have gone before us were beyond his reach. He stored no crowns or jewels up in heaven waiting for him. Yet, Christ saved him.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We struggle to understand that we are saved by grace so that no one can boast. We avoid this truth by claiming that our good works are a sign of God’s grace. Unlike the thief, we use our time and opportunities to show ourselves and others that we are saved.

Entrance Into Heaven

Luke 23:43, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”

The thief was lucky that it was God and not us who admitted him into heaven. For God, it was enough that Christ invited the thief and the thief accepted the gift of that invitation. We would have wondered how he got there. He didn’t have the pedigree; no church membership, no experience of giving to the poor, no sacrifice of tithing, not even a single attendance to Bible study. How could he possibly qualify? Everything has a price, even if that price is beyond our ability to repay.

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, “I love you.” – Billy Graham.

Christ paid that price in full. Nothing we can do will ever take away that gift willingly given by Christ. Don’t focus on performance. Like the thief, be always thankful that the King of Kings invited you. Stay humble in His presence.

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

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Are You Living Up to Your Full Spiritual Calling?

Everything God created has the potential for greatnessAre you reaching your Godly potential? Have you maximized what you can do? Maslow once said, “What you can be, you must be.”

He may not have realized it, but he was echoing the heartbeat of Scripture.

In just seven words, he uncovered a truth God had already embedded into every person’s soul: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Embracing that purpose isn’t optional—it’s a sacred duty.

Before Creation

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Psalm 139:16, “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 were none of them.”

That phrase stops me every time: “…the days that were formed for me…”

Before I took my first breath, God already saw every step I’d take. So why, if God knows the plan, is it so hard to live it? Why do we wrestle to find our potential, stumble into calling, and question if we’re on the right path?

The Paradox

Because there’s a tension here—a paradox, which theologians refer to as antinomy: two truths that appear to contradict but are both real. God has a sovereign plan, yet we still have to choose it.

Boethius, writing 1,500 years ago, described a picture: God exists outside of time. He perceives the beginning and the end at the same time. He doesn’t guess what we’ll do—He knows. But His knowing doesn’t override our ability to choose. We are not robots; we are image-bearers with responsibility.

I can’t fully explain how it works, but I’ve seen evidence that it does. Scripture confirms it. Experience affirms it. I’ve seen purpose, and I’ve seen rebellion. I’ve watched lives redeemed and others wasted. Evil exists, but not because God planned it—because people chose it.

Evil vs. Doing Nothing

As I understand it, evil is not always active wickedness. Sometimes, it’s simply the absence of doing good. Choosing not to decide is still a choice—and often, it’s the wrong one.

Isaiah 45:7, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”

Older translations say “create evil,” but that Hebrew word—rah—refers to calamity, not moral evil. It points to disruption and hardship, not depravity. Let’s not confuse natural consequences with moral corruption. God may bring judgment or allow trouble, but He never authorizes sin.

That’s a different discussion. This one is about your potential. So no, we don’t get to sit back and let life “work out.” God’s plan for you is real, but it requires participation.

Snowflakes and Pebbles

“Behind every avalanche is a snowflake, behind every rockslide is a pebble.” – Max Lucado

God’s will is like an avalanche. Your decisions are the snowflakes, and obedience is the pebble.

You matter. Your choices matter—your calling matters.

Discovering and living out your God-given purpose isn’t just a noble idea; it’s the reason you’re still alive. It’s what makes you complete, not only in who you are but also in your relationship with the One who created you.

Romans 8:28, “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.”

You’re called. The plan is real. But you still have to step into it.

What can you be… You must be.

So, what’s stopping you?

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How to Live Sustainably: Balancing Purpose, Passion, and Vocation

Vocation Sustains PurposeSustainability is about endurance. Our purpose and passion are not always the same as our livelihood; our purpose is to glorify God, and our passion is how we fulfill that purpose. Our livelihood is our vocation, which supports our purpose and passion. Paul was a tentmaker. That was his day job; it funded his ministry.

Acts 18:3, “and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade, they were tentmakers. “

Paul continued to pursue his vocation as a tentmaker throughout his life, including during the time he was an enforcer for the Sanhedrin and after his conversion. We can assume he was pretty skilled at it. However, being skilled at something and having a passion for it are two very different things.

Having a Skill

Every person, of every degree, state, sex, or condition, without exception, must have some personal and particular calling to walk in. –William Perkins, A Treatise of the Vocations

We often confuse being skilled at something with being passionate about it. After all, to excel at something, you need to practice, learn, and dedicate time to it. Why would anyone invest so much effort in something they don’t feel passionate about? There are many reasons. You might believe that your material life would improve if you pursued this particular career. Or you could feel more accepted in your social circle if you possessed a specific skill. For some children, their parents instill the idea that they should pursue a particular profession when they grow up, leading them to chase it to make their parents happy.

In America, I often see that after finishing school, we need to start earning a living. We aren’t always aware of what options are out there, so we take whatever job is available. Sometimes we do some basic filtering, like: I enjoy talking to people, or I dislike working with numbers. But mostly, we need to pay the rent. This begins a vicious cycle of more bills, more money, more obligations, and more expenses. We become skilled at something because it fulfills and sustains this essential need. Sustainability of life is a requirement for sustainability of purpose.

Having a Passion

But the vocation that Paul excelled in was not his passion. When asked who he was, he would not have said “tentmaker”.

1 Corinthians 16-17, “For when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.”

Paul expresses his passion for preaching the word. He felt compelled to preach. Paul had a clear understanding of his calling and love, and it wasn’t about tentmaking.

As we look toward the future to understand God’s plan for our lives, we should learn a lesson from Paul. Our vocation may be a vital part of God’s plan for us, providing sustainability in our ministry. We might not need or want to quit our “day job” as we get closer to God’s plan. It might not be our passion, but it could be part of the plan. It is a skill and a resource God has given us to use for His purpose.

Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters.”

Compensation

I need to point out that Paul believed those who share the Gospel could receive compensation. If full-time ministry is your calling, then God will find a way for you to earn a living from it. Here is what Paul says:

1 Corinthians 9:11 “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?”

1 Corinthians 9:14, “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the Gospel.”

Galatians 6:6 “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.”

Sustainability matters. If what you are pursuing is truly God’s plan for you, He will supply the necessary resources. From experience, I should remind you that the present shapes the future by using the past. The season of your life might change. Don’t see that as a lack of sustainability. Instead, view it as the cost of tuition.

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