The Purpose Before You

Written By: April Mills

Spiritual blindness: living unaware of God’s presence, people’s pain, or your own purpose-even when it’s right in front of you.

If I took a survey of 100 people, and asked them if they had a difficult person in their life, I bet I would get a good showing of hands. Let’s be honest, we all have that one person that challenges us. We all have that one person that instantly makes our anxiety level rise, and un-Christlike thoughts flood our mind. A friend recently shared with me, “I can’t believe you go through all that effort. They don’t deserve all of that.” While I understand where they were coming from, to me it’s not a matter of “deserving”. My efforts towards them are a fulfillment of a calling God placed on my life. I didn’t always have this understanding. I assure you; I was quite far from it.

I understood some time ago that my relationship was not exclusively designed for my natural life. One day, after a particularly challenging interaction, a sudden realization hit me with a resounding clarity. As cheesy as it sounds-it truly was if the clouds parted and I could see clearly. All the distractions were removed, and His purpose revealed. This relationship, this bond I have with this person, was designed with His divine purpose in mind. It supersedes what this relationship means in the natural, but has an eternal weight tying us together. Before I entered this world, my life and story were intricately woven to intersect with this person. For years, the relationship brought much pain, disappointment and bitter frustration. As I grew in faith, and in my desire to walk purposely, the Holy Spirit began to pull back the layers and reveal to me the depth of the brokenness and self-induced isolation. And truthfully, it was sad. I was staring at a person that has burned all the bridges, nursed their grudges, and clung to their bitterness and pain. They have sacrificed relationships and blessing to hold these pains sacred. I knew that I wasn’t going to have the kind of relationship that people in our roles typically have, so I decided to go a different route. I let go of this person in my heart. I let go of expectations and hopes I had for the relationship. Some of those hopes were buried so deep, they hadn’t seen the light of day since childhood. I gathered them all up my arms, mentally stood on the cliff’s edge, opened my arms wide and set them free. I let the wind take them and carry them far from my sight.

Friend, do not be distracted from purpose.

I had to let it all go. I had to let every one of those hopes and expectations fly away. If I didn’t, they would remain in my heart only to serve as a distraction. My disappointment and frustration would only stand as a barrier to His perfect will. They would distract me from the greatest purpose of all-to be the heart of Christ to another. As a result of letting go, I am more kind, patient, and truly, not nearly as bothered. I am able to kindly and firmly speak truth

without the emotional baggage. I am more gracious and forgiving. For so long, all I could see was my own suffering. My eyes and focus were fixed on me, and because of that, I was missing my calling and purpose to fulfill. Now, I am no longer spiritually blind. My eyes have been opened, and I am living aware of God’s presence, this person’s pain, and my own purpose. I have been redirected, my focus has been realigned, and I am on mission.

I encourage you to think of that one person, and ask God to make you more aware of your purpose in this person’s life. Ask Him to give you the eyes to see, and the strength to carry it out.