“What Am I Doing With My Life?” - A blog by Steph
Hey everyone! Steph here! I’m so excited to be sharing with you in with week’s blog!
Sometimes we come into seasons where we ask that age-old question “What am I doing with my life?”
I honestly don't know how many times I've asked that, and sometimes I feel like I'm “failing at life” because I can't always answer that question. Now I think of it, how could I have possibly answered that question when I was looking to the world for the answer? Teacher? Florist? Big sister? Friend? It wasn't until recently, that instead of seeking a worldly answer, God gave me a real revelation as to what I and (collectively) us as Christians are called to be.
Note that key word. BE. Not do. But – BE.
In Matthew 9, Jesus meets a tax collector named Matthew. He’s no one special in the eyes of society; and if you asked if he had any talents or skills, people would probably have said, “being a cheat” and “having friends that are a low lives, like him”. He wasn't well liked, and he probably knew it.
In Matthew 9:9 we read the story:
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.”
Sometimes we focus on the wrong things first. We meet Jesus and then skip past getting to know and become friends with Jesus, and instead we focus on the new things we think we must do. “What am I going to do for you Jesus?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“What's my calling?”
“Where am I going?”
In the way Jesus intended it for Matthew, I believe he intended it for us as well. Jesus simply met Matthew where he was at, while he was still a tax collector living in sin, and ripping other people off. Jesus said to him “Follow me and BE my disciple”. Disciple can be a confusing word, it simply means getting to know Jesus on a personal level. It is just like when you make a new friend and you really like them. You want to hang out with them, talk to them, and get to know them, go places with them and be around them.
I really want to encourage you, whoever you are - I am someone who constantly has to guard herself from falling into the trap of doing. When we focus on growing in our relationship with Jesus, and BEING his disciple, we learn to follow him with all our heart. This comes from a place of desiring to know Him, and to be in relationship with him. Through this we begin to grow in a Christ like attitude (Philippians 2:5). We realise life is not about us, our own dreams or desires, and God is so much bigger than us and He is always in control, even when we look around and try to beg to differ.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
“For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.” (1 John 3:20 MSG)
It makes sense that when we seek the God who created us, and who knows us better than we do ourselves, we find answers. And not just good answers but God answers. Even though sometimes it may not feel like it, He knows our situations and circumstances the best (For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11) And even though sometimes things in life feel like they're constantly changing, and life can feel unstable or inconsistent - God is consistent and reliable (“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” - Hebrews 13:8 ) and you can find security (Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. - Psalm 16:5 NIV) and identity in Him. (For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3)
I’m praying this has blessed you in some way! Have a great week and enjoy GC Youth on Friday night!