After having the book and journal sitting on my bookshelf for several years, I decided to finally go through the Purpose Driven Life study. It’s a 40 day bible study intended to help you realize your God-given purpose in life.
Today’s chapter was all about how we are not here by chance. Nor are we who we are by chance. God created us — specifically and purposefully. Every single detail about us (whether we like it or not) was intended. This really resonated with me and made me think of Christian and the circumstances surrounding his conception. As an unmarried woman, it is clear that Christian was born out of wedlock. However, I have never felt that he was a mistake. I have always felt that God brought him into my life for a purpose, and that he knew what he was doing when he did that.
I had one person make me feel bad by basically telling me that Christian was the result of sin and that if I had not sinned he would not be here. And that, to me, is a very negative way to view things. It makes it seem as though Christian should not be here. And that is something that I refuse to believe. But the thing about it that really saddened me is that there may come a time when Christian doubts his purpose in life simply because of the fact that he was “not planned”. But this chapter solidified in my mind that he WAS planned. Just not by me. He was planned by our Creator. And he was planned for a purpose. And that is something to rejoice in.
You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God.
Poem by Russell Kelfer
This was one of my favorite portions of The Purpose Driven Life. For years I struggled with this because I was adopted. After meditating on this passage, I realized that God had a divine plan in place for my life prior to my conception – He knew how, when, why and where. My birth and adoption impacted the woman who carried me, my parents and the path that I would take throughout my life. Thanks so much for that wonderful reminder!!!
I think we all need reminders of things throughout our lives. I’m glad that I could be a part of you remembering something so profound. 🙂