For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
– Psalm 139:13-14
I can remember being fifteen sitting in my high school auditorium, staring at a certain Senior girl with a strong mix of admiration and comparison. “I wish I were more like her,” I thought. “I wish God would’ve made me more reserved, confidently quiet, and mysterious.” I felt like her polar opposite. I was loud, funny, and unfiltered, leaving little to the imagination of what was going on in my head. While not much has changed about my personality since then, the way I view my “weaknesses” has shifted exponentially. I am, just like you, fearfully and wonderfully made, and was placed on this earth for a reason.
God placed a one-of-a-kind combination of distinct abilities, talents, and passions inside you that no one in the entire world ever has, or ever will possess. Sure, another woman may hold the same job title, have kids the same age, or want to achieve similar goals. However, unlike the drink flavor combinations at Sonic which have a finite number (over 168,000), there will never be another human like you with the same gifts or experiences.
However, in a world of competing social media profiles and behind the screen comparison, it can be easy to think there’s nothing special about us. But when we stop to think about how God knows us personally and was purposeful when He made us, we can find confidence in who He is and who He created us to be.
- God knows and numbers every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30)
- Like clay is to a potter, we are the work of God’s hand (Isaiah 64:8)
- God saw us even before we were born and our moments were laid out before Him (Psalm 139:16)
- God loved and wanted us to be in heaven with Him so much that He sent His only Son to die on a cross so we could be saved from our sins (John 3:16)
You mean something to God because He intentionally made you. And I don’t think He wants us to miss out on what He’s already positioned us to do or fail to embrace our individuality because we believe we’re not enough, are afraid of failing, or are too wrapped up in trying to be someone else.
Are you still feeling afraid to cultivate your purpose? I’ll leave you with this thought. When you don’t pursue your unique purpose or try to reach your full potential, you’re not only limiting yourself; you’re depriving others of the light you bring into the world. Keep seeking the Lord’s will for your life and get fired up to continually uncover and live out your purpose from here on out!
Challenge: Write this down and place it somewhere you can see it every day: “I was created on purpose and for a purpose.” Each time you see it, remind yourself of the uniqueness you uncovered in your Guide to Cultivate Your Purpose and get busy pursuing what you’re called to do!
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Jantzen Jolly-Miller is a small business marketing professional and freelance faith writer who is on a mission to help women get real: real with themselves, with their business, and with their relationship with God and His church. In addition to being the lead content writer for Wheat and Honey Co., she blogs about personal takeaways from her life and faith walk to help women create positive change in their everyday routines at JantzenJollyMiller.com