Boldness + Alignment
Finding Purpose in the Intersection of God's Plans
While it’s true that many of my recent blog posts have started with similar phrases like “so when we started thinking about this adventure” or “so one of the main things I’m learning," today I’m breaking the mold. This morning, as I journaled after reading and praying through Acts 4:23-31 (a passage my friend Jim challenged me to engage with daily on this trip), two powerful truths leaped off the page:
Resisting God's plans will only lead to struggle and frustration.
We are called to be bold in our faith.
These sound great in theory, but what do they mean when I put them into practice?
Alignment: Key to Success and Satisfaction
The first truth – aligning myself with God's plans is essential for success and satisfaction – seems obvious, but it's a profound challenge for someone as stubborn as me. Learning usually requires a high degree of "bashing it into my head" and learning the hard way before it sticks. (There’s an old DC Talk song in there somewhere...)
I don’t believe I’m alone in this struggle. In my years of ministry and counseling, I've come to believe that this misalignment between our desires and God's plans lies at the core of most people's emotional, spiritual, and existential struggles.
From a young age, we're encouraged to develop aspirations: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This is a healthy question, prompting us to think about our future and set goals. However, I recently read an article that suggested a more powerful alternative: Ask children what problems in the world they want to solve.
The article's thesis is that focusing on problem-solving opens up more possibilities than merely focusing on a specific job. I believe this approach is theologically sound and would take it even further. The crucial step is not just seeking out problems we want to solve on our own, but constantly asking God to help us see the world through His eyes and align that vision with the gifts and talents He's given us.
The Intersection of Gifts, Problems, and Heart
I believe true fulfillment and satisfaction in life are found at the intersection points where:
The gifts God has given us meet
The problems He has allowed us to see, and
The heart He has put in us to solve and address them.
I see this regularly when I think about the teachers who teach my kids. I love my children dearly and would give my life for them, but the thought of teaching them 8 hours a day for 162 days a year makes me want to pull my hair out. For me, teaching a classroom full of kids all day is horrifying. But for teachers with a passion for it, while it's no less stressful or taxing, there's a deep fulfillment that comes with it.
Let me give another example. Imagine a gifted musician who feels called to use their talent to bring joy to people in nursing homes. Their music might not top the charts, but the smiles and tears of gratitude they receive are a reward far greater than any fame or fortune.
Or consider a skilled carpenter who uses their abilities to build homes for those in need. The physical labor is demanding, but the knowledge that they're providing shelter and security to families is deeply satisfying.
In each of these cases, the individual's unique gifts are being used to address a specific need in the world, and their heart is aligned with God's purpose for their life. This alignment leads to a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and joy that can't be found any other way.
Boldness: Stepping Out in Faith
The second truth from Acts 4 – the need to be bold in our faith – is equally important. Once we've discerned God's purpose for our lives, we need the courage to step out and pursue it, even when it's scary.
This might mean leaving a comfortable job to start a new ministry, moving to a new city to serve a different community, or simply speaking up about our faith in a challenging situation. Boldness doesn’t mean being reckless or insensitive; it means trusting God and having the courage to act on that trust.
Think of the early disciples who faced persecution and even death for their faith. They could have stayed quiet and safe, but they chose to boldly proclaim the Gospel, even at great personal risk. Their boldness led to the spread of Christianity throughout the world.
Closer to home, I think of a friend who felt called to leave her successful career in finance to become a missionary in a developing country. It was a huge leap of faith, but she knew it was what God was calling her to do. Today, she's making a real difference in the lives of people who desperately need help.
The Blessing of Boldness and Alignment
When we align our lives with God's plans and boldly step out in faith, we tap into a source of power and purpose that transcends our own abilities. We become vessels for God's love and grace to flow into the world. And in the process, we experience a level of fulfillment and satisfaction that can't be found any other way.
Acts 4:31 tells us that after the believers prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. This is the blessing that awaits us when we align our lives with God's plans and boldly step out in faith. We may not experience a literal earthquake, but we will experience a shaking up of our own lives as we're empowered to live out God's purpose for us.
Conclusion
So, what does Acts 4:23-31 mean for you? How can you apply these truths to your own life? I encourage you to take some time to reflect on these questions. Ask God to show you His plans for your life and give you the boldness to pursue them. And remember, you're not alone in this journey. God is with you every step of the way.
As you seek God's purpose for your life and boldly step out in faith, may you experience the fullness of His blessings and the deep satisfaction that comes from living a life aligned with His will.