Anita Ojeda 
Did God design you to do just one thing? And how in the world do we figure out what we’re designed to do? Maybe it’s easier than we think.
This post is part of the Five-Minute Friday quick write hosted by Kate Moutang. Join us each Thursday night on Twitter (#FMFParty) for fun and fellowship, then grab a pen and start writing when the prompt goes live!
Senioritis Strikes Again
“I can’t wait until we can come back to school,” my student texted me this morning.
“Really?!” I texted back, just a little shocked that a student would miss school and want to return from an unexpected COVID-19 break.
“Yeah. I miss school.”
“Does that mean you want to keep going to school next year, after you graduate?” I texted.
“Yes. I want to keep going to school,” he replied. “I just don’t know what I want to study.”
It seems like every January my seniors start stressing over what happens next. Will they go to college? What about taking a gap year? How will they know what to study if they do decide to go to college?
When they ask me for advice, I pass on what a wise teacher told me and my classmates when we agonized over what to do after graduation. “You only have three big decisions to make in life,” he said. “Whether or not to serve God, how to serve God, and who to serve God with.”
I knew from my early teen years that I wanted to serve God. But how to serve him? Not so easy to figure out. I ended up getting a scholarship after college graduation to study bilingual-bicultural education.
Along the way I also fell in love and married—I discovered who I would serve God with. I started my first teaching job two weeks after our wedding, 32 years ago.
Did God Design us for Just One Purpose?
Although my teacher had the general idea right, we need to realize that God designed us for many purposes. And each purpose has a place and a time where he needs us to fulfill it the most.
As created, multi-faceted beings, we have multiple options available to us. We could do a plethora of things which will make God say, “Yes! She’s following my design for her!” and give a little fist-pump to the attending angels.
Sometimes, it takes a while to gain the experiences that prepare us for our sweet spot. The place where our talents, skills, and passions coincide. This happened with my husband, where cancer, job loss, and random jobs prepared him for his sweet-spot job. God had a purpose and design all along, but for many years we couldn’t see either.
I think the most important choice we can make is the first one—to serve God. He designed us for a purpose—to show his love to others—and we can do that whether we teach, or preach, or sweet floors, or blog, or stay at home with our kids, or sort beans. We don’t need a platform of thousands, we just need to keep on loving in Jesus’ name and living for an audience of One.
I love this post Anita!
Especially the following;
“We don’t need a platform of thousands, we just need to keep on loving in Jesus’ name and living for an audience of One.” Amen!
Bless you,
Jennifer
Tea With Jennifer recently posted…The Involuntary Smile
Thank you for stopping by, Jennifer 🙂
Anita Ojeda recently posted…These New Releases Will Make You Laugh AND Think!
Of COURSE God designed me for a purpose!
“Hmmm,” said God, “now let Me see;
I don’t have much to work with, here.
He’s no good at humility
but he’d sure excel at drinking beer.
I really wish he’d stuck around
while we were handing out the brains,
but having one he would have found
new ways to drive Me quite insane.
He’s got some nice broad shoulders,
and decent muscle tone,
with fists the size of boulders
biceps bigger than My own…
we can offer him to rugby clubs,
for healthy sport, and wrecking pubs.”
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser recently posted…A Story Worth Telling?
You always make me laugh, Andrew. God has a purpose for you beyond what you think of as the obvious.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 036 Five Hacks to Help Your Kids Develop Self-Confidence
I love this post Anita, I like how you said “God designed us for many purposes. And each purpose has a place and a time where he needs us to fulfill it the most.” That is such a great reminder. I paused to reflect on that. Blessings.
Visiting from FMF#5
Paula Short recently posted…Share Four Somethings; Chapter 1, January 2021
It took me awhile to figure this out, Paula! Our biggest purpose is to love. Everything after that is gravy!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Do Your Physical Self-Care Goals Need an After-Action Review Now?
Lovely!
Our design, our purpose:
“To glorify God and enjoy Him forever”!!
Thanks for stopping by, Fiona!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How to Fix a Worn-Out Attitude
“He designed us for a purpose—to show his love to others…” Amen. May I love others well!
Loving people well is a full-time endeavor.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Do Your Physical Self-Care Goals Need an After-Action Review Now?
That teacher of yours was very wise indeed and I love this phrase – “We don’t need a platform of thousands, we just need to keep on loving in Jesus’ name and living for an audience of One”. I shall keep your words with me. Great post Anita.
Wemi Omotosho recently posted…Created by Design
Thanks for stopping by, Wemi!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…These New Releases Will Make You Laugh AND Think!
What a great blog! You are right- we have many purposes. I think God’s purpose for everyone is to be born into God’s family and bring glory to God. And after that, we each have our own unique purposes. Um… could you read my blog? It is #9, the ugly one. It was supposed to have my photo on it but instead it has my ugly definitions of designed/ not very attractive, lol.
I was able to find and read your post :). Sometimes it’s hard to get the right photo on the link up ;). No worries!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…These New Releases Will Make You Laugh AND Think!
yes! i love this: “it takes a while to gain the experiences that prepare us for our sweet spot.” because I still think I am trying to figure it out!! beautiful encouragement, Anita!
You and me both! I feel like my sweet spot is changing.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…SCH 036 Five Hacks to Help Your Kids Develop Self-Confidence
I like the simplicity of this: “You only have three big decisions to make in life,” he said. “Whether or not to serve God, how to serve God, and who to serve God with.” If you get the first one right, then the second one is easier because he won’t leave you on your own. He is a loving Father. Of course the third piece includes many different people, but my wife is the most important piece of God’s design for us.
Exactly! the first one is the most important an dit helps shape our most important relationships.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Did God Design You for a Purpose?
I love this too, Anita. It’s funny that my hubby would be struck by the same thing as me in your post. I love that teacher’s advice too. It covers a lot of territory in the Christian life. Wayne and I have a granddaughter who is going to be a senior next year, so I will share this with her too. ~ Cindie, visiting from FMF #30
Cindie Winquist recently posted…God’s Design in Trials
Great thoughts Anita!!! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Deirdre!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…These New Releases Will Make You Laugh AND Think!
I have discovered a gem of a book (well, more of a pamphlet with several appendices, including one of letters from Brother Lawrence) written about Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite monk. His life in the monastery showcased exactly what you referred to, Anita. Each of us was designed for a purpose – to serve God in everything we do. Even – especially – the small things. I highly recommend this short read (available for free from Project Gutenberg) for anyone seeking to take their spiritual experience to the next level.
“The most effective way Brother Lawrence had for communication with God was to simply do his ordinary work. He did this obediently, out of a pure love of God, purifying it as much as was humanly possible. He believed it was a serious mistake to think of our prayer time as being different from any other. our actions should unite us with God when we are involved in our daily activities, just as our prayers unite us with Him in our quiet devotions…We must…trust in God and surrender completely to Him. He will not deceive us. Never tire of doing even the smallest things for Him, because He isn’t impressed so much with the dimensions of our work as with the love in which it is done. We should not be discouraged if we fail in the beginning. This practice will eventually cause our efforts to become a pleasurable habit that we can do without thinking” (from The Practice of the Presence of God).
I read the book years ago, and it’s lessons have always stayed with me. Not that I follow them perfectly, but they are there ;).
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Do Your Physical Self-Care Goals Need an After-Action Review Now?
Anita,
Thank you for the sweet reminder that we DO things truly for an audience of One. God is happy that we serve with him in whatever ways he has for us in each stage of life. The purpose of our lives is to Love God and Love people. Wise words here! Jennifer, FMF #13
Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer! Loving God always seem so much easier than loving people, though ;). Especially cranky, mean people. But more and more I realize God wants me to do just that.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Why Everyone Should Read One of the Good Ones
Three big decisions: “Whether or not to serve God, how to serve God, and who to serve God with.” I like this. good summation. Then through that.. finding purpose.
This week.. my encouragement… how I’ve been helpful to fellow bunny breeders. 🙂
Annette recently posted…The Master’s Design
How cool to help out bunny breeders! God can use us no matter what!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Do Your Academic Self-Care Goals Need an After-Action Review Now?
Hi Ms. Anita!!! Awesome post. So first, I read the title and thought, “Why Yes He Did!” 🙂 Two things stand out for me – the advice you were given “Whether or not to serve God, how to serve God, and who to serve God with.” and remembering we have different purposes. I’m going to remember that quote. As for the second part, one of the things I often teach is there’s no reason to be confused about what your purpose is – it’s to serve. The question should be who and how based on our gifts and talents. Loved that you brought that out. Awesome!!!! If I may, I will share this one additional thing that I’ve heard and love (but still up for debate).. we can have a single purpose, but different assignments attached to it. (hmm?) FMF#37
I agree! Our purposes is to love and serve–I like your idea of thinking about all the different ways as ‘assignments.’ Perfect analogy!
Anita Ojeda recently posted…These New Releases Will Make You Laugh AND Think!
This ——> “We don’t need a platform of thousands, we just need to keep on loving in Jesus’ name and living for an audience of One.” Sometimes we think we need the audience because we are human and also need the affirmation. What a great reminder for me to focus on Jesus and to reflect him to my audience one by one.
Deanna Kohlhofer recently posted…God’s Design
Thanks for stopping by, Deanna! I have to remind myself of this truth over and over 🙂
Anita Ojeda recently posted…How Fresh Ideas Can Change Your Perspective and Make You Stronger
So good, Anita! We may have several different things we do in our lifetime but our main purpose is to honor God in each of those things.
Lisa notes recently posted…When You Think You Can’t Say No —Grace & Truth Linkup
Yes! Honoring God is so important. Sometimes, we have to really explore what our sweet spot is because we fall into things that are ok, but not sweet.
Anita Ojeda recently posted…Spine-Chilling Suspense Spanning Continents and Eras
Shaping young lives is such an amazing gift! Thank you for what you do for the kingdom each and every day!
Barb – FMF#42
Beautifully said…our singular purpose to love and follow God often weaves itself through a lifetime of varied paths. I love, though, how God uses every step along our path, though, to accomplish his will. The gift of age is being able to look back over your life and see how God used both success and failure to lead you to that next step of purpose. FMF#50
Trisha recently posted…Five Minute Friday: Purposeful Design
What a great post, Anita. I remember my Senior year of college freaking out about what did God want me to do? What was His will for my life? I must have read about 8 different books on how to decipher God’s will for my life. If only I had read your blog post about 20 years earlier 🙂 Our paths change as our experiences change. Some bad decisions we make will still be used for good in the future as long as we come back to our Father’s heart. You sound like a fabulous teacher. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Miccah