Destiny and Identity

I ended this last post with a bit about how we are all (hopefully) moving closer and closer to who God made us to be. A bit more on that...

Recently, I finished this book by Jamie Winship:

I first learned about Jamie from one of my best friends, Eric, who had shared some talks he gave about how to hear God's voice. It was massively impactful and I spent the next couple of years listening to anything else Jamie had online (much of which I wrote about). This guy is a real faith-builder, and certainly has helped increased my faith and what I believe God can and will do. And so when I found out he had written a book, I had to get it!

I'll spare you a review (though I would encourage you to check out anything from this guy), but what I wanted to write about is the idea that God, as a Father, has some ideas about who we are meant to be. You could even say he has a plan.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

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

As a young Christian, I was always afraid that God's plan would land me somewhere in Africa as a missionary; miserable, but faithfully doing God's work. As I've matured (a little), I think those plans from God are often a lot better and more life-giving than we can sometimes believe. And something Jamie writes in the book is that knowing who God wants us to be is not only something we ought to do; discovering that identity is of the utmost importance. In fact, much of our lives are about listening to God, learning who He says we are, and then putting those words from God into action. "Your being, your true self, will always inform your doing," as he puts it.

So why do I immediately feel like those things God wants me to do are awful, painful, but good-for-me types of things? Like the spiritual equivalent of eating your brussels sprouts with your hands holding your nose so you don't have to taste it!

Probably a lot of that is spiritual warfare -- because if we are afraid of our destiny, or don't trust that it is ultimately a good and fulfilling thing, then we won't step into it. I'm certainly guilty of this type of thinking, and even resulting inaction.

However, what has been striking me lately, and one of the antidotes to this type of thinking, has come from my own experience as a father.

Maybe the best photo anyone ever took of us!

My kids are preteens (and almost a teenager!), and so they are starting to explore more of who they are as individuals. I think some of our jobs as parents are to observe our kids, and guide them in directions we think suit their personalities. That's how I interpret this famous bible verse:

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

I will tell you as someone who is in the middle of this stage: it is so fun to watch them grow into the people God made them to be! I thank God all the time for the privilege of this responsibility. 

For instance, Ellie is so brave, and has over and over again stepped on stage to sing with no one else pushing her towards it -- she just wants to sing and so she finds ways to ask for chances to do it! Here is a video of her from many years ago, boldly going for it, even when she didn't know the words:

And my youngest, Waverly, is an incredible artist and storyteller. She's written a ton of comics and even just listening to her play with Barbies is full of drama and plot twists! She's also started playing music this year and says saxophone class is her favorite one. 

She wrote four of these "Magic Mal" comics!

So, if that's how I feel watching my girls grow and explore things they are good at and are interested in, why would God, our Heavenly and perfect Father, be any different?

If you, then, though you are evil, know ow to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)

I'm learning to believe and trust that God enjoys watching us step into places we are meant to be, doing things we are designed to do. And though they can be challenging or even scary at times, these are things and places that likely make us come alive! We walk away energized and encouraged, eagerly anticipating the next assignment to follow that momentum forward. It's fun and exciting and fulfilling, all at the same time.

So let's expect more from God and also expect those things to be good and life giving. If you are ever scared of your destiny or feel like it's less-than something you were created to do, it's probably not a voice worth listening to.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)