Know Your Purpose, Create Your Legacy

Have you ever been asked if you know your purpose?

I spent lots of years of my life asking myself this very question. It seemed I didn't know who I was or what I was purposed (called) to do in life. The very thought of pinpointing my purpose caused me anxiety.

Life experience, they would say, will define your purpose. But the problem was that I had so much life experience, starting with the passing of my father at age three, that I couldn't select just one life experience. My experiences were a tapestry of not so rich and royal hue which made it challenging to find the good inside the bad.

I marveled at people who seemed to live a fairly un-trauma-filled life, who could quickly determine their purpose, take action, and create impact. Not me. I was one who would think I found it, start in that direction, get distracted by another life experience, stop the previous momentum I had generated, and go a different direction.

To be honest, my 'experiences' are what I wanted to keep a tight grip on as they were too painful and shameful to share.

I mean, who wants to shout from the rooftops about three failed marriages? Who wants to speak of the darkness of abortion? Who wants to relive the moments of watching an abusive drunken alcoholic stepfather repeatedly beating your mother?

But here's the real mystery: Why was I solely focusing on negative experiences and negative outcomes? Why wasn't I focused on positive experiences or, at minimum, positive outcomes? Why was I focused on being the victim versus the victor? 

Then one morning during my quiet time in the Word, Holy Spirit spoke to me through Romans 8:28 where He promises to work all things together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

And this is where I shifted. This wasn't the first time I had read this scripture, it was, however, the first time it spoke to me. This is why the Word is living and why it's important to keep growing in it. Shifts happen when doing so.

I took stock of every positive and victorious experience in my life. My coming to know Christ as my Savior. Forgiveness. Salvation. Redemption. Transformation. I especially took note of all the good that came from all the bad circumstances and situations in my life. 

Perspective is everything!

Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble but that he had overcome the world so that we could have peace (John 16:33). We are also required to consider it pure joy when we face troubles of any kind as the test produces perseverance (James 1:2-3). 

Friend, I encourage you dive into scripture so you can begin to know your purpose and rewrite your story. There are many lives waiting to be changed by you -- your story deserves to be told and your legacy longs to be created. 

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

P.S. You can start by grabbing my My True Purpose™ Workbook, it's free and full of value. Be sure to follow me on Instagram as well -- it's where I post the most on a daily basis -- so you definitely do not want to miss out!