REAL TALK: IT IS NOT DIFFICULT BUT DIFFERENT

I T I S N O T D I F F I C U L T B U T D I F F E R E N T

Your guide to a modern lifestyle in a fast-paced city

P H O T O B Y M A R K F L E T C H E R - B R O W N

Most people believe that purpose is only for people that go to church and are Christian. I do not believe that because purpose is more than your lifestyle, whether Christian or not. I define purpose as doing what brings joy and fulfillment without monetary rewards. I think it is about serving others and not expecting anything in return. Purpose seems difficult because we align service with money.

Purpose does things in a way that we are not used to. It fights against the norms and what people think is right than what God says. Purpose doesn’t ask permission to be revealed to us. It doesn’t care if you are willing to walk in it or not but it will make sure that you know it. What you do after knowing it, is between you and your God.

Photo by Mark König

WHAT IS PURPOSE?

According to Faithward.org, It declares why you exist. It captures the heart of why you are on this earth and why Jesus died for you. It defines your life—not in terms of what you think but what God thinks. It anchors your life in the character and call of God.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE?

Sometimes we think too much and hard when it comes to one’s purpose. Consider injustices that bother You. When you sit in silence what touches your heart looking at the injustice in the world when you are just going about your day and you see something and then it brings grief or sadness. This could be kids or youth ministry. It could be marriages or divorced people. Maybe it is food and you could feed the less privileged. It is as simple as that, there is always a need that one’s purpose could help.

So don’t start to think that you did not hear, understand properly your purpose, you did because of its magnitude, it is supposed to scare you when you think of the possibilities of your purpose.

Purpose is whom is it serving. Purpose does not serve you. It’s never about you but God’s people. Purpose is never to benefit you but fulfill you. it’s supposed to help greater people. It’s not to make you famous or rich but fulfilling which is more than the money and the fame. “What do people need” is the question you should ask yourself when you realize your purpose? When it comes to purpose, you need to know that you are a vessel for God. You are God’s hands-on earth. When you have answered what the people need is how are you going to deliver to the need.

I wish you could see and fill my heart every month after publishing. It’s something that I am not paid to do but I do it for God’s purpose on earth and the fulfillment I get. And then comes testimonials of how this is educational, healing and eye-opening.

Your purpose can never be the same as the next person's or your friends purpose. God looks at your heart and not the heart of the people around you. Sometimes you would think that your friends will support your purpose because you are friends, that’s what friends do but it’s mostly the opposite. I remember when I started the magazine, I expected people to jump at the idea of writing articles as a way of supporting me but they were not able to write and they had their own things to do. God had to remind me that He is the one who gave me this project and not to the people I was looking to for help as they would not be more invested than me because He did not tell them.

This goes as deep as your romantic relationships. Your purpose can complement each other but it is not dependent on your partner. I once believed that the only way to my purpose was through my husband. Guess what! we divorced, and I cried to God if it is done with my purpose but God replied that my destiny is not attached to anyone but Him.

Please understand that all you need is to accept what God is calling you to do and leave the rest with Him. The how and when are all in his hand and all

The picture below was taken in 2020 in the early stages of the magazine. I was a newlywed, had no children. I would work on the magazine day and night.

you need to do is spend time with Him to get the season you are in. You spend time with him so that you align with Him. Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”