Purpose Without Apology

Guiding Scripture: Genesis 29:16-17 - “Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.”

• In my humble opinion, anyone who says the Bible is boring clearly hasn’t read the book of Genesis. There is more drama, deception, and backstabbing in those chapters than in any soap opera on TV today, and nowhere is that drama more evident than in the story of Rachel and Leah. Between the two of them, these rival sisters became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel, and their story is proof-positive that God can use literally anyone for His purposes, no matter how broken, bitter, or discouraged we may be. 
• Rachel and Leah were both victims of their father Laban’s deceit.
  1. In Genesis 29, Jacob falls in love with Rachel and agrees to work for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, Laban gives his older daughter Leah to Jacob during the marriage ceremony instead, deceiving him.
  2. Leah was forced to marry a man who was in love with her sister, while Rachel was forced to watch them be married for seven years and then share Jacob with Leah forever.
• Rachel and Leah were both unhappy in their marriage for different reasons.
  1. Genesis 29:31 sums up the sisters’ predicament: Leah was fertile but unloved, while Rachel was loved but infertile.
• The sisters’ desires made them bitter rivals.
  1. Leah literally names her children based on her desire to be loved by Jacob (Genesis 29:32-34, Genesis 30:17-20).
  2. Rachel literally tells Jacob that she would rather die than be unable to conceive (Genesis 30:1).
  3. Later, when her servant Bilhah conceives (more on that later), she names the child Naphtali, which means my struggle because she said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” (Genesis 30:7-8)
• They used manipulation to get what they wanted.
  1. Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob to sleep with so she could have children through her (Genesis 30:3).
  2. Later, after she stops having children, Leah does the same thing with her servant Zilpah (Genesis 30:9).
  3. During the wheat harvest season, Leah gave Rachel mandrakes (which were believed at that time to improve fertility) in order to have a night to sleep with Jacob (Genesis 30:16).
• They both put their desires ahead of God—and paid a heavy price for it.
  1. Leah never received the love from Jacob that she wanted so badly. In fact, his favoritism for Rachel extends to her children and causes great conflict among their sons (which is another story for another day).
  2. Although the Lord eventually gave Rachel two sons, her second delivery was so difficult that she died in childbirth, and named her son, Ben-Oni as a result (which means “son of my trouble”).
• Despite their flaws, God heard—and honored—both of their prayers.
  1. The Lord enabled Leah to conceive because he saw that she was unloved (Genesis 29:31).
  2. Similarly, the Lord “remembered” Rachel and “listened to her” so that she conceived many years later (Genesis 30:22).

Action Step: Has there ever been a time when you felt unloved or unappreciated by others? Or, have you ever received favoritism that you didn’t earn? How did that situation make you feel? Were you tempted to believe that everything would be better if your situation was different? Did you try to change things on your own, or did you submit your concerns to God? How might you handle things differently if you find yourself in a similar situation in the future?

Guiding Scripture: Romans 10:15 - “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

• When many people think about sharing their stories with others, they feel overwhelmed and intimidated. They worry about what they will say and whether or not they’ll be rejected for it. Some even wonder if they have a story worth telling. I’m here to tell you that your story is more valuable than you know. Today, we’re going to talk about how to embrace your story and move forward in telling it with confidence. 
• Recognize that God is sending you.
  1. John 20:21 - “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’”
  2. When you know that God Himself, the creator of the universe, is sending you as His ambassador for His kingdom, it empowers you because you realize that you are representing Him, not yourself.
• Value your uniqueness.
  1. Psalm 139:14 - “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
  2. There has never been a person in the entire world who looks, thinks, sounds, acts, or feels like you do. You had a 1 in 400 trillion chance of being born. No one else can share your story in exactly the way you can. 
• Be authentic.
  1. Be careful about filtering your story based on what other people might think. Sometimes the parts of your story that you feel ashamed of are the parts that can bring freedom to others.
  2. At the same time, use wisdom about what you share and with whom you share it. There’s a fine line between being transparent and oversharing.
• Understand that the need is great.
  1. Matthew 9:37-38 - “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”
• Be confident that the Holy Spirit will help you tell your story.
  1. Luke 12:12 - “for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
  2. Matthew 10:20 - “for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 - “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
  4. Many of us put pressure on ourselves to tell our stories “perfectly,” but Scripture allows us to completely take the pressure off of ourselves. It is the Holy Spirit who brings people to the Cross; our job is only to show them the way.

Action Step: Ask yourself honestly if you are embracing your testimony and looking for ways to share it with others. If so, how can you apply the principles in today’s episode to be even more effective? If you’re not sharing it, what can you do differently to get more comfortable with doing so? Ask the Holy Spirit for boldness to help you with this process.

Guiding Scripture: Genesis 16:13 - “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[a] the One who sees me.’”

• Hidden in the pages of Genesis, in-between a well-told narrative about the faith of Abraham and Sarah, lies the story of an Egyptian slave named Hagar. We don’t know much about her aside from her connection to Abraham and Sarah, and she is often used as a cautionary tale about what happens when you try to get ahead of God’s timing. However, the reality is that Hagar’s story is far more complex, and we’ll be exploring some of those complexities today. 
• Hagar was a victim of circumstances outside of her control.
  • She was an enslaved Egyptian woman who was forced to sleep with Abraham so she could conceive a son for Sarah (Genesis 16:1-3).
  • We know Hagar wasn’t happy about this because she hated Sarah after she got pregnant (Genesis 16:4).
• Hagar’s story shows how others can be hurt by our disobedience. 
  • Sarah mistreated Hagar after she got pregnant by Abraham, so much so that Hagar ran away from her (Genesis 16:6).
  • Years later, after Sarah had given birth to Isaac and saw Ishmael mocking him, she demanded that both Hagar and Ishmael be sent away into the desert (Genesis 21:9-10).
  • Some Biblical scholars suggest that since Hagar was Egyptian, she may have been one of the slaves given to Abraham after his time in Egypt (Genesis 12:16)---when he lied about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife. In other words, Hagar might not have even been available for Abraham to sleep with if he hadn’t deceived Pharaoh in Egypt.
• God saw Hagar and cared about her when others didn’t.
  • The Angel of the Lord appears to Hagar, signifying her importance to Him (Genesis 16:7).
  • Although God tells Hagar to go back to Sarah, he never rebukes or shames her for her situation. In fact, he blesses her and gives her son the name Ishmael, which means “God hears” (Genesis 16:9-11).
• God can and does use our brokenness for His glorious purposes.
  • When Joseph is sold as a slave by his brothers several generations later, the men who purchase him are Ishmaelities, the descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 37:28). 

Action Step: Consider the moments in your life when you’ve felt like an outsider. Did you ever feel like God didn’t know about your struggles, or even worse—didn’t care about them? Take some time in prayer today to talk with God about those moments and ask Him to heal you from that pain. Also, consider getting Christian-based counseling to help you process that rejection in a healthy way.

Guiding Scripture: Revelation 12:11 - “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

• Everyone has a story—including you—and your story is completely, one hundred percent unique to you. There is no one in the world who shares your exact combination of gifts, flaws, experiences, or opinions. God designed you with all of these things in mind, and His plan is for your story to have a powerful impact on the world. So the question is, are you ready to tell your story without apology?
• What is your story?
  • It’s either a challenge you’ve overcome or something good that you’ve achieved.
  • It impacts other people around you in some way, either in religious or secular spaces or both.
  • It always brings glory and honor to God.
  • Ex. My story about depression
• Why it’s important to tell your story:
  • It brings glory to God. (Matthew 5:16)
  • It is part of the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8)
  • It encourages and strengthens everyone who hears it (Revelation 12:11).
  • It is healing for us to share our stories. (James 5:16)
• 3 ways to tell your story in 2022:
  • Share your story. This is probably the easiest and most accessible way to tell your story with others. It simply involves you telling people in your sphere of influence what God has done for you, such as friends, family members, coworkers, etc.
  • Write your story. This doesn’t literally have to be in the form of a book. It can also include blog posts, plays, movies, songs, paintings, or any other art form that God inspires you to use.
  • Declare your story. This often involves a form of public speaking.
• 4 signs you may be ready to tell your story:
  • You’ve gone through Christian-based therapy or counseling to help you heal from any trauma you’ve experienced. 
  • You have a healthy community that is supportive and encourages you to tell it.
  • You have a strong sense of boundaries concerning what you feel comfortable sharing.
  • You feel that God is prompting you to share it.
• Key Point: At the end of the day, only you know for sure if you’re really ready to tell your story. Never let anyone pressure you into sharing before you’re ready.

Action Step: Take at least 30 minutes to spend quiet time with God, and ask Him what testimony He has given you that you can share with the world. If you see the signs listed above in your own life and feel comfortable, begin moving forward with sharing your story, following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Guiding Scripture: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

As women, we usually do a lot of juggling in our households. Many of us have to manage working, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children and other family members. With so much that is expected of us, deep rest can often feel like something that’s always just out of our reach. But what if it’s possible to live in a constant state of resting in God? And even better, what if I told you that God designed you to live this way?

1. Resting is much more than just sleep; it’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, too.
   1. Physical: Self-care, i.e., eating healthy, exercising, getting enough sleep, drinking water, etc.
   2. Mental: Getting counseling to maintain good mental health, using discernment on social media
   3. Emotional: Spending time with close friends and family
   4. Spiritual: Spending quiet time with God, reading the Bible, worship
2. Remember the acronym R.E.S.T.: “Remain Everyday Steady and Trusting”
   1. Remain: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
   2. Everyday: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8)
   3. Steady: They [the righteous] will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. (Psalm 112:7-8)
   4. Trusting: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3)
3. Resting requires boundaries. (Luke 10:42) You have to make it a priority over other things.
4. A warning: If you don’t make time for resting now, you will be forced to rest later.
5. Rest looks different in different stages of life. 
6. Resting in God is like any other habit; it’s something you develop gradually over time. You must always be intentional about pursuing rest.

Action Step: In which areas of your life have you been lacking rest? If you had to pick one area of your life that could benefit most from rest, what would it be? Set aside time to pray and ask God to show you how to rest in Him.

Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, a well-known leader in the personal and professional development industry, famously said, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." Most of the time, you choose who those people are, but sometimes God chooses for you.

How to know that God is changing your social circle:

1. You start feeling uncomfortable around your current circle.
   • This discomfort can take many forms, but often it shows up as a sense that you no longer belong. Things may irritate you that didn’t bother you before, for example.
2. Conflict increases between you and your circle, often seemingly out of nowhere.
   • This is different from the normal conflict that occurs in every relationship. Don’t let an aversion to conflict convince you that a relationship is over.
3. Your support system begins criticizing you, claiming that “you’ve changed.”
4. You meet new people who you connect with easily, and who have a positive impact on you.
   • This often happens when God wants to increase your responsibility.
5. You are “reintroduced” to people you already knew, but now you see them in a different light or get to know them on a deeper level.

What to do once you realize God is changing your social circle:

1. Identify what God is saying through these changes.
   • For example, I struggle with confrontation, so God has been pushing me to take an active role in ending certain relationships lately, instead of just passively pulling away.
   • Make sure that God is pushing the change and not the enemy.
   • Accept that you may not completely understand why God is changing certain things until later, if at all.
2. Acknowledge how the changes make you feel.
3. Embrace the changes and believe that God’s plans are best (Jeremiah 29:11).

What not to do:

1. Fight the change by either holding onto the old or rejecting the new.
2. Isolate yourself from people in general.
3. Cut off people when God didn’t tell you to.

Key Point: There’s a difference between following God and acting out of your own bitterness, unforgiveness, or immaturity. If your social circle changes every year, you are the problem.

Action Step: Get out a sheet of paper and divide it into 3 columns. In the first column, list the top 5-10 people in your life right now. In the second column, write a few words that describe the positive traits each of these people brings to your life. In the third column, write the positive things that you contribute to their lives. How do Columns 2 and 3 compare? Do they feel balanced? Are you happy with who is on your list? If not, what are some changes you could make today to improve things?

We all say we want to live our lives with purpose, bringing glory to God and expanding His kingdom on the earth. And yet, Jesus tells us over and over again throughout Scripture that the life of a Christian isn’t an easy one. 

Here are 5 things that pursuing purpose can cost you. Are you ready to pay the price?

1. Purpose can cost you popularity.
   1. Galatians 1:10
2. Purpose can cost you comfort.
   1. Luke 9:23 
3. Purpose can cost you relationships.
   1. Matthew 10:34-35
4. Purpose can cost you resources.
   1. Proverbs 3:9-10
5. Purpose can even cost you your life.
   1. Luke 9:24
   2. With the exception of John, all of the 12 disciples are believed to have died violent deaths, many as martyrs for the Christian faith.
   3. Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen, who is widely considered the first Christian martyr.
   4. Estimates vary widely regarding persecuted Christians today, but most faith-based organizations believe that anywhere between 10,000 and 90,000 Christians around the world are martyred for their faith every year. Could you be one of them?
6. Here are 4 rewards that pursuing purpose can give you:
   1. Purpose brings you closer to God.
      1. John 14:21
   2. Purpose will give you protection.
      1. Psalm 91
   3. Purpose can give you prosperity.
      1. Joshua 1:8
   4. Purpose will give you peace.
      1. Psalm 119:165

Action Step: Take some quiet time to meditate on how you may (or may not) be pursuing your God-given purpose. Which areas have you devoted to God? Which areas do you still need to submit to Him? Spend 30 minutes brainstorming, and then ask God to help you fully surrender to His purpose for your life.

Guiding Scripture: Psalm 27:13-14 - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (NLT)

• God’s timing is always different from ours.
  • Isaiah 55:8-9 - “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
  • 2 Peter 3:8 - “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”
• The wait is long to build up our faith.
  • James 1:2-3  - “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
• The wait is long to make us mature.
  • James 1:4 - “Let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• The wait is long so our motives can be revealed.
  • Genesis 22:12 - “‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’”  
• The wait is long so that God can get more glory.
  • Exodus 3:19-20 - “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.”
• What to do while you’re waiting (the ABC’s of waiting):
  • Anticipate what God will do: “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-8)
  • Be still: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” (Psalm 37:7)
  • Celebrate what God is doing right now: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-4)

Action Step: What is one area where you are waiting on God to break through or bring change in your life?