Wow, this chapter has me pegged!! It discusses some of the possible driving forces, all of which have controlled my life at some point: guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, and need for approval. I've worked through those things in my life and felt pretty good as I read through those sections. But then one short paragraph, only one sentence long, really got me:
"There are other forces that can drive your life but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life."
That sentences sums me up. I constantly feel like I am doing nothing important with my life. Although I am very happy and really don't want to change anything, I still feel unfulfilled in some ways. But that's what this book is going to help me find: finding God's purpose for my life.
The section "Knowing your purpose simplifies your life" makes me REALLY look forward to finishing this book lol. Knowing your purpose "defines what you do and what you don't do... People who don't know their purpose try to do too much- and that causes stress, fatigue, and conflict." WOW, THAT'S ME!!! Paul said, "I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." That's what I want to do.
The Question to Consider at the end of the chapter bothered me because I have no idea what the answer would be: "What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life?"
I Am Not an Accident
"We discover [our] meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives."
This chapter brings up several thoughts for me.
First, I realize that God planned my birth, planned everything about it. He chose my parents, where we'd live, gave me a huge extended family... for these things I cannot be grateful enough. I don't have many friends, and this has bothered me a lot. However, most people do not have the blessing of family like I do, and I would glady take the family God chose for me over most "friends" I would choose for myself. When friends have disagreements, friendships end, but family is family forever.
Second, I am 25 years old and my husband will soon be 30. The subject of children is a common one with people our age, but we have yet to decide we are ready for that step. Watching our peers with their kids sometimes makes me feel guilty, especially when I watch my aunts and uncles with their grandchildren and my parents don't have babies to play with and spoil. My parents will make great grandparents :-) and I am thankful that I live close by for when that day does come. This chapter made me feel better because God plans births- we don't. When He gets ready for my husband and I to be parents and for my parents to be grandparents, then He will make it happen regardless of what we have planned.
Third, I want to share the last two stanzas of a poem in this chapter. 2010 was the hardest year of my life. Looking back hurts too much to do, but it is necessary sometimes just so I can see how blessed I am. I felt that I had been abandoned by God, that he didn't care about the pain I felt. However, I realize that - while I was feeling abandoned - God was working in the lives of those around me and using them to lift me up, to restore me and to restore my faith. My husband is the prime example. He came home from deployment with a love for me that I know came straight from Heaven.
"No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!"
This chapter brings up several thoughts for me.
First, I realize that God planned my birth, planned everything about it. He chose my parents, where we'd live, gave me a huge extended family... for these things I cannot be grateful enough. I don't have many friends, and this has bothered me a lot. However, most people do not have the blessing of family like I do, and I would glady take the family God chose for me over most "friends" I would choose for myself. When friends have disagreements, friendships end, but family is family forever.
Second, I am 25 years old and my husband will soon be 30. The subject of children is a common one with people our age, but we have yet to decide we are ready for that step. Watching our peers with their kids sometimes makes me feel guilty, especially when I watch my aunts and uncles with their grandchildren and my parents don't have babies to play with and spoil. My parents will make great grandparents :-) and I am thankful that I live close by for when that day does come. This chapter made me feel better because God plans births- we don't. When He gets ready for my husband and I to be parents and for my parents to be grandparents, then He will make it happen regardless of what we have planned.
Third, I want to share the last two stanzas of a poem in this chapter. 2010 was the hardest year of my life. Looking back hurts too much to do, but it is necessary sometimes just so I can see how blessed I am. I felt that I had been abandoned by God, that he didn't care about the pain I felt. However, I realize that - while I was feeling abandoned - God was working in the lives of those around me and using them to lift me up, to restore me and to restore my faith. My husband is the prime example. He came home from deployment with a love for me that I know came straight from Heaven.
"No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!"
It All Starts With God
"The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions."
That's very difficult for me. As children, we are asked what we want to be/do when we grow up. As teens, we have to start making decisions about where will will go to college and what we will study. As young adults, we go to college then start careers. Well, I got my degree, but then I decided to get married instead of using my degree, and my career plans were erased. I've spent the last months wondering what my dreams are, trying to figure out what I want to do now, where I want to go from here.
I decided to start this study because three times in the past week (and several times over the last few months)I have been approached with the issue that I will never be successful until I focus my energy on one thing. Well, I haven't been able to figure out what that one thing should be. Then, yesterday, I received the job offer for which I've been hoping! While I am very excited, I want to make sure that I am approaching this job- this life and career opportunity- with the right mentality, one focused on God's purpose for placing me in this job and what I bring to the table instead of what this job does for me.
That's very difficult for me. As children, we are asked what we want to be/do when we grow up. As teens, we have to start making decisions about where will will go to college and what we will study. As young adults, we go to college then start careers. Well, I got my degree, but then I decided to get married instead of using my degree, and my career plans were erased. I've spent the last months wondering what my dreams are, trying to figure out what I want to do now, where I want to go from here.
I decided to start this study because three times in the past week (and several times over the last few months)I have been approached with the issue that I will never be successful until I focus my energy on one thing. Well, I haven't been able to figure out what that one thing should be. Then, yesterday, I received the job offer for which I've been hoping! While I am very excited, I want to make sure that I am approaching this job- this life and career opportunity- with the right mentality, one focused on God's purpose for placing me in this job and what I bring to the table instead of what this job does for me.
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