” Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.’ Ephesians 5:17 NLT

Do you know your purpose? You might have a sense of it, but could you describe it to someone else? Could you tell them (or yourself) in one sentence what God put you on earth for? When you discover your purpose and can clearly articulate it you will have a guide for how to spend your time. My personal purpose statement has helped me to hone in and schedule tasks. Sure, I get distracted at times and my focus gets a bit fuzzy. This has been one of those weeks. But, overall, having a clear sense of purpose has been a guide to help me keep making meaningful progress. If that’s something you struggle with, let’s talk!

So. Let’s start with finding your purpose. We can explore more about time in the future.

Discovering your purpose starts with knowing yourself. How well do you know yourself? I mean really. Do you truly understand your own personality, strengths, and weaknesses? How well can you articulate what you really want from life? From yourself? From others?

What if you made your goal for this year knowing yourself better? How might that give you clarity on the purpose you were created for?

Take some time to intentionally explore who you are and what makes you tick so that you understand how God has made you. You will find it valuable in gaining focus and defining purpose.

Maybe you’ve done some of that hard work of understanding yourself. Good! Why not take some time to reconsider and reclarify? It will be worth it!

When you know who you are, you know where you want to go. You may not know the exact destination. Truthfully, that changes based on the season you are in anyway — but you will know which direction to head in.

Look back at last year. What went well in your life? What do you wish you could do differently? What helped you feel like you were making progress?

As you take the time to evaluate what worked and what didn’t you will have a sense of where you are. Knowing yourself, what you want, and where you are become tools that lead you toward knowing where you want to go.

Understanding what you want is part of understanding how God designed you. Contrary to some psychological thinking, we are not born as blank slates. Our character and personality are NOT completely shaped by our environment. Yes, those elements do factor into the person who we become and how our lives are shaped. But you and I are born with a personality. Every baby has a personality. Parents can tell right away that each child is different.

I remember realizing that my child was not at all like me even though I expected her to be. It was a revelation! Even as a toddler, she had her own unique way of seeing and responding to the world. If her environment had been the shaping factor, she would have been a reflection of me, but not so!

God gave you your personality for a reason. You can’t discover that reason if you don’t recognize your personality. It’s part of how He has shaped you to accomplish His purposes.

Dear Friend, there is so much more I’d like to say to you about this, but, as I said, this has been one of those weeks. My brain is still a bit unfocused and my time to write is up. Just know this: You truly were made for a purpose and you can achieve it. Wherever you are on that journey of discovery, you can continue to make progress. Keep learning. Keep searching. Keep growing!

Key Question: Do you know your purpose?

A Scripture to Consider: ” Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.’ Ephesians 5:17 NLT

A YES Challenge: Take some time to consider the purpose you were created for. If you have never done so before, write a sentence that describes that purpose and save it where you can refer to it in the future.

Prayer: Father, I often lose track of Your purpose for me. I get caught up in everyday life and don’t think about what You want me to do. Help me to get a clearer picture of what You created me for. Then help me to keep that direction in mind as I make decisions for my life. Thank You for making me for Your honor and glory! Amen.

Note: If you’d like a thought partner to help you craft a personal purpose statement, use this link to schedule a complimentary coaching session. I I’d love to help you articulate your purpose, set your goals, and design your time!

September 12, 2026

This is Not Forever

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

As I tearfully opened the sodden boxes of our stored belongings, wondering what was ruined, a verse came to mind,

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

We were temporarily living with my parents, and our stuff was stored in Tom’s parents' garage. They had a plumbing issue in their bathroom above the garage, causing a leak that soaked several of our boxes and other items, including our mattress. We weren’t sure what was salvageable.

That period of time was already difficult. We were waiting for a job to open up and unsure how long that would take, how long we would be living with my parents, how long our stuff would be stored. Both sets of parents had been patient, loving, and gracious. There was no one to blame for the water damage. Sometimes things just happen.

But when that verse popped into my brain, it completely changed my perspective on going through the damage. The tears didn’t stop. There was some mourning and disappointment. But at the same time, there was hope. This was temporary. These things were just things. What really mattered was how I responded. I could choose an eternal perspective. I could choose to treasure Christ more than an earthly possession.

As it turned out, very few of our things were unsalvageable, and insurance more than covered anything that was lost. But the eternal perspective I gained is a treasure that I still carry. That simple shift helped me through the three and a half years of living in the in-between.