Have you ever reached the end of a busy day and thought:

"Did I accomplish anything important?"

You worked hard.

 Messages and people were responded to.

Problems were solved.

People were helped.

You handled your responsibilities.

You were productive.

 

Before you continue reading, I encourage you to watch the full video:

🎥 Not Everything Good Is God's Assignment For You

👉 Watch here

And, you might like this part especially:

Timestamp: 01:40 Busy Doing Things God Never Asked You to Do

 

But inside, you can feel it. Something's off.

You know you're not doing anything "wrong."

But, the thought comes to your mind:

"Am I doing what God actually wants me to do?"

That is an important question.

It may explain why you've accomplished so much and still feel unsettled. 

Slightly discouraged...slightly unsettled.

 

One Of The Easiest Traps To Fall Into

One of the easiest traps to fall into is spending years (a lifetime) doing "good" things and missing God's purpose for you.

It can happen because you're doing good things God never asked you to do.

 

Let that sink in.

You can be doing a lot of good. Not doing sinful things.

 Good things.

Helpful things.

Necessary things.

People look at all you do and praise you!

You're doing things people appreciate… things that make you look successful, as a Christian, as a woman, and in the roles you've taken on.

So, how is it possible to still miss out on God's purpose for you?

 

The problem is that good things can become distractions when they pull you away from God's assignment for your life.

There isn't ONE WAY to live. There isn't one purpose and one way for all women, and Christian women, to live.

You may feel pressured by those around you to do exactly what everyone else does, and they may communicate to you that there is a template for a Christian woman to follow.

I read the story in the Bible this week about Martha coming to Jesus to ask Him to talk to Mary, because Mary wasn't helping her, and she was super busy serving.

Serving isn't wrong.

It's good!

And, yet, Jesus said:

"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful." 

Luke 10:41-42

 And, Mary had chosen it.

Ouch.

Martha was busy doing a good thing, while Mary was doing the best thing.

It was not about that thing being wrong.

It was about it being the wrong thing at that time.

And also, Jesus looked into her heart and saw that she was filled with anxiety, and her heart was troubled.

He told her she was not just troubled about serving, but about many things!

Is that you and me right now?

 It's easy to fall into that trap.

There will always be needs.

 

 

🎥 Start with the Complete Spirit, Soul, and Body Playlist
👉 Watch the playlist here

 

Success Is Not Proof You're Doing The Right Thing

 Success is not proof you're doing the right thing.

I want to repeat that because you may have head knowledge of it, but not heart knowledge.

The world tells you differently.

But, they may be wrong.

 

Our culture tells us to measure everything by results.

Money.

Growth.

Recognition.

Influence.

Followers.

Achievements.

God is working invisibly, and His biggest work can't be seen through your eyes.

He measures differently.

God looks at the heart. And, measures success by faithfulness and obedience.

 

The world asks:

"Did it work?"

God asks:

"Did you obey Me? Were you faithful?"

You can spend years climbing a ladder only to discover it was leaning against the wrong wall.

 

You can become very successful doing something God never assigned to you.

If you came to the end of your life and it were possible to have copied that successful Christian friend perfectly and achieved everything she achieved, you would have completely failed at life.

Because you would have missed God's purpose for you.

You can look really good on social media and totally miss God's purpose for your life.

You can also be going after the right purpose, but in your own strength.

Are you hustling to achieve God's assignments and feel like you're burning out?

God says, “Trust in Me with all your heart.”
“Without Me, you can do nothing.”
“With God, all things are possible.”

That thought should cause every Christian woman to pause.

Because the goal isn't simply to be successful.

The goal is to be faithful.

The aim is reliance on God and to do all things for His glory.

One day, you and I will stand before Him.

 

The words we long to hear are:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 

Matthew 25:21

 

Not:

"Well done, thou productive servant."

Or:

"Well done, thou busy servant."

No. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

 

 

Why You, Highly Capable Woman, Struggle Here

You are highly capable.

You figure things out.

Your life exhibits that you get things done.

People come to you because you can solve problems.

Dependable is your middle name.

Reliability is a character quality you're proud of.

Doesn't that sound like a list of your strengths?

Yes.

I am sure that Martha could have said the exact same thing.

 

But here's the problem for Martha, and for you and me.

You may have begun saying yes before praying about it.

 

You see a need and immediately step in.

There's an opportunity, and you immediately volunteer.

A problem is brought to your attention, and you immediately take responsibility to solve it.

Over time, you've become accustomed to carrying everything and carrying it well, and now you're carrying things God never assigned you to carry.

I have done that.

And it's no wonder I felt pulled, then, in a hundred directions.

 

Friend, being needed is not the same thing as being called.

Just because there's a need doesn't mean it's you who must meet it.

Because you CAN do something does not mean God has assigned you to do it.

 

The Question That Changes Everything

Several years ago, I began asking a different question.

Instead of asking:

"Can I do this?"

I started asking:

"Lord, did You ask me to do this? And am I to do it now?"

This week, I received a group text request to prepare meals for a family going through some health issues.  

My first thought was to fulfill that request immediately, and I tried to figure out when and how I could do so.

Then, I stopped and prayed. And, the answer surprised me.

Because right now, I've been recovering from an injury that has limited me physically, and I am hosting a mom and her two children who are staying with us for a week. 

When I asked God about this "good thing" that I was being asked to do, I felt God saying, "Not now. Maybe later."

This is not the time.

I know that there are others available to fulfill this request who are in a season of life when they have a lot of help at home, and making a meal is not a big deal.

And, I know of a couple of meals being delivered this week.

Those may be the reasons why I felt God saying, "No."

But, even if I can't see the reason, I must listen to Him and obey.

Could I have said, "Yes"? Absolutely. But, after praying, I don't believe it's God's assignment for me right now.

 

"Lord, did You ask me to do this? And am I to do it now?" 

That has saved me from countless wrong turns.

It helps me say no to things that look good.

The answer helps me stay focused on what God says matters to me.

My time, energy, and peace are protected.

Most importantly, it has helped me stay in the lane of fulfilling God's purpose for me.

 

 

James tells us:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." 

James 1:5

 

God never intended for you to figure out your life independently.

He wants you to seek Him.

Ask Him.

Listen to Him.

Follow Him.

 

If you've gotten caught up in comparison, feeling "less than," copying others' lives and their assignments, remember that God uniquely created you for His purpose, not anyone else’s, and He wants you to find it.

You can read more about that here: Uniquely Created by God for a Purpose

 

Seasons Matter

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I was younger was looking at what other people were doing and assuming I should be doing it, too.

I worried that if I didn't do it now, I would miss the opportunity for life.

There was the fear that I would be behind or miss out.

I thought I might miss God's will for my life.

But God's timing is perfect.

When my children were growing up, my assignment was different from what it is today.

Homeschooling them was not a distraction from God's purpose.

It was God's purpose for that season.

Had I chased other opportunities, I would have missed the assignment He had already given me.

Ecclesiastes tells us:

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Every purpose.

Every season.

God knows exactly what He is doing.

You do not have to force your future.

You do not have to chase someone else's calling.

You simply need to walk with Him today.

 

Hearing "Well Done" Begins Now

You may think of hearing "Well done" as something that will happen at the end of your life.

In one sense, that's true.

But your daily choices are what lead to those words happening.

Every time you say, "Yes."

But, also, every time you say, "No."

Because the No's allow you to say Yes to His purpose for you.

God gives you wisdom for every commitment, every opportunity, and every decision.

The path to hearing "Well done" is built through daily listening and obedience.

Not dramatic moments.

Ordinary faithfulness.

Trust in a God of mercy and grace, Who wants you to know His will.

 

Watch the full video above...

 

So before you automatically say yes to the next opportunity...

Or volunteer to help...

Stop if you're about to add one more thing to your already full life...

Just because you're capable...

Pause.

Pray.

Ask the question.

"Lord, is this actually mine to carry?"

Then trust Him enough to obey the answer.

Because not everything good is God's assignment for you.

If you're starting to realize you’ve been carrying things God never asked you to carry… this is where everything begins to change. Your next step --> Lead Yourself First

And the peace you're looking for may begin when you finally stop carrying what He never asked you to carry in the first place.