Our devotional series is a collection of writings from members of Liberty Church. This piece was written by Emily Kirkendoll.
At the beginning of March, Paul Andrew delivered a two-part message called “Living on Purpose.” He emphasized the importance of having a vision like Joseph, who faithfully aligned himself to his purpose at every unpredictable turn. Though Joseph had an impression that greatness was in his future, he didn’t know why, how, or when it would be fulfilled. Likewise Saul, when he was persecuting Christians, thought he was living out his calling, but his zeal was misplaced. He knew the what but not the why of his calling. Eventually Jesus stopped him and reversed his course to advance the very church Saul had been trying to destroy. Saul’s conversion is famously dramatic, but it wasn’t immediate. First, he was blinded so that he couldn’t continue on his course. Then Jesus sent Ananias to meet Saul on Straight Street (you know, where you go to straighten things out), restore his sight, and baptize him into his new faith and mission (Acts 9:1-22).
How do you respond when it seems that God is blocking you from your goals? With bitterness, anxiety, or feeling out of control? Or with trust toward his promise and his process? (Read Proverbs 3:5-6, 11-12)
Before I became a parent I thought a timeout was a convenient incarceration for bad kids you didn’t want to deal with. When I started using timeouts with my son, I still saw them as punishment—controlling his bad behavior. I’ve come to realize a timeout is a positive way of turning an emotional breakdown into a teachable moment. In a timeout, you take the child to a quiet place away from whatever is setting them off and, for a set period of time, they cool off so they can receive the lesson and learn how to achieve their goals the right way. When time is up, the parent will kneel down to ask the child, “Do you know why you are in timeout?” Perfect. In real life, the kid goes berserk, screaming and throwing things in anger, because their immediate goals are blocked and the parent they trusted is the bad guy.
I think I’ve been in a timeout. It’s been several years, but initially when my plans were interrupted, I felt angry and fearful. I was bewildered about my purpose in life and shaken in my trust toward God. Now it’s becoming clearer that I was not as on track as I thought. I was in a career where I was succeeding but that influenced a cynical attitude in me, in which I was actually killing other people’s dreams, while simultaneously paralyzing the use of my talents.
Do you know why you are in timeout? If you’re struggling to identify your purpose in a large sense, what immediate course correction may God be leading you towards?
Later, Paul is on trial before the high priest and retells the story of his conversion. At the most crucial time, Paul recalls what Ananias spoke over him at the end of his timeout: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:14-15).
If you are stuck or at a crossroads, what promises or dreams has God given you in your past that can guide you now? (Read Jeremiah 29:10-13. Yikes, Babylonian exile. I hope I’m never in that much trouble.)
Prayer: Lord God, help me submit to the process of realigning my values, my identity and my purpose in who you are and your will for my life. Help me to respond well, not in anger, bitterness, anxiety, doubt or frustration. Help me to let go of control. Help me to trust you and your promises, not leaning on my own understanding, but allowing your Spirit to move and guide me to live a life on purpose. Help me to live a life that brings you glory in every sense. Amen!
