FOLLOWING MY PASSION

Do you have a passion that burns deep to the core? ; Or a drive like a pile of red fiery coals that you can’t contain? I don’t mean a strong desire to go shopping or a craving for chocolate. I’m’ talking about a passion to make a difference, to change the world, make an impact on some one life or to fight for a cause. Do you feel that kind of drive?

If so, what are you doing to set it free? Or do you feel you have waited too long- stifling your passion to raise kids or climb the career ladder?

Intense passions can be both a gift and a message from God. Through these passions, He whispers, or yells to us.” I have created you for a purpose. I have a mission for you.” If you can associate with these feelings, then you have probably discovered Gods’ calling on your life. Once God has revealed that calling to you, you have two options; to be obedient to the call or to ignore it.

I’ve learned that ignoring a calling can lead to depression, anger, frustration, and a deep dissatisfaction with life. I have also learned that following a calling can also lead to moments of depression anger, frustration, and loneliness Yet, underneath those feelings, will be a profound sense of peace and satisfaction

God has exposed my passion to me several times throughout my life. Until four years ago, I didn’t really know how to direct it. Then with prayer, meditation and reading the Bible, I was directed to,” Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. Through this tool, I discovered my intense passion was in helping others Learn of Gods’ Word. I had to ask myself, “What am I doing to help spread God’s Message? And what am I doing to lessen the sin that plague this sinful world?” Asking these questions raised a lot of anxiety. As a child of God, a wife, mother, grandmother and being a minister’s wife, thinking of the unsaved made me feel embarrassed guilty, and helpless. Instead of taking action, I directed my passion at criticizing the church for not working harder to eliminate ignorance of Gods’ word.

God continued to stroke my passion, and I continued to rationalize all the reasons why I couldn’t respond to his call. This action caused me to become more angry and bitter also deeply disappointed with life. Finally, after a bout depression, I realized I couldn’t continue to ignore the passion God has given me.

Thankfully, God is so merciful, patient and forgiving that he blessed me with a husband who deeply believed a calling on my life, was a calling for the whole family. So we pursued the calling, making significant changes and sacrifices. We battled doubts, fears, family and friends who thought we were crazy. In the end, God place me along side my husband using all the skills and talents given to us to help others learn about our loving God and his son Jesus.

I wouldn’t be honest, if I said that my life is complete bliss now that I’m living my passion. But I do have a peace that I’ve never known before. I am at last doing what God created me to do. I’ve learned, and my hope is to help my children, grandchildren and others learn, that when God gives us a passion and a calling, He will be faithful to help us fulfill it.