Purpose Driven! Or Pleasure Driven!

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me – Psalm 138:8 (ESV)

Life is precious, one time gift to each one of us from God. God fulfills His purposes in the lives of those who are obedient to His call and those who are eager and diligent in fulfilling the purposes of God. Today, our Lord is looking for those who are purpose-driven rather than the worldly pleasure-driven. David in his Psalm 138 talks about his hope that our Lord will fulfill His purpose for his life. He says in verse 7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” He says no matter whatever difficulties and hardships he goes through he knows those hardships are a part of fulfilling God's purposes for his life. The potter knew when he picks up the clay for the day what type of vessel he is going to make. It may be a small one or a big one. But it is his plan and he exactly knew before even he makes it, where that vessel will be used. God is our Creator or a Potter. Isaiah says in his book chapter 64 and verse 8, “O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Remember we are called to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives. Our goal must be that during good times “Praising” and during challenging times, “Trusting” our Creator. Since David had such a great hope that our Lord will fulfill His purpose for him, God certainly fulfilled His purposes for David! That is why we read in Acts 13:36, “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.” God has brought you in to this world to live in this generation. He has a purpose for you! That is why He saved you by paying a price through the sacrificial death of His only Son, Jesus Christ who was crucified, raised from the dead and fulfilled His Father’s purpose for His life. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Are you carrying a heavy load at the moment? There is a purpose!. Believe like David who said in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” God will comfort you and remove your burden away.

This true story happened in the life of a mountain climber. Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breath during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. 'Great', she thought. 'Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry.' She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.' She thought, 'Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.' 

Many times, when we hit a hard rock that is a hurdle and brings hardships to our daily life and not sure why we need to go through this hard situation, it is good to say, 'God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.'  The One who calls those who carry heavy burdens to come to Him, and He will give rest. His promise is, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).”

Prayer: Father, sometimes I question and ask you to reason my heaviness, but help me to trust you for you have a purpose for every situation I go through in this world. I know your plans are for good and to give me a future and a hope.