FAITH LESSON 2: PURPOSE

I made 'Prayer' the very first #FaithLesson for one reason: routine turns belief into something you can actually hold on to. Prayer gives you a starting point. Something tangible. Something steady. Hopefully, after committing to praying regularly, you have started to feel connected, but if not, don't panic, it will come. The truth is, the desire to embark on this journey means you are already connected, and the connection will grow stronger the further along you travel. Don't give up.

You may be questioning why you've suddenly, or maybe always, felt compelled to lean on a higher power; it's because God has a purpose for you.

^"11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

When we talk about purpose, we often think of people whose callings made history: Moses parting the Red Sea for the Israelites to escape Pharaoh, Marie Curie reshaping science and winning a Nobel Peace prize, Obama becoming the first president of the United States of America of black descent, or Serena Williams, the greatest female tennis player of all time. But calling isn't always publicly loud, sometimes it's just loud within you.

When God has chosen you to play a part in the bigger picture that is life, you will constantly feel restless and/or dissatisfied until you start walking in that purpose. The purpose may not be glamorous or make headlines but it will be necessary, and part of the journey is accepting that refusing to respond to the calling may create tension in and around you.

There are may who have been called to fulfil a purpose that doesn't end up in history books or Wikipedia pages, but it's no less critical. Some people are the quiet carriers of impact and these unsung heroes play a significant, albeit unrecognised, role.

Adele acknowledges the impact her English teacher had in making her a global icon.

The purpose of this faith lesson is to tell you this: since you’re reading this, you have a purpose, and you’re already on your way to fulfilling it.