During the pandemic and feeling closed in, my wife Liz and I took a trip to the beach and sat in amazement as we were captivated by a little sandpiper’s trek for food near the shore line. We had seen hundreds of sandpipers, many times at the beach but none like this one. It only had one leg and each time the little sandpiper combed for food the wave would roll in quicker than it could penetrate the sand for a nutritious meal. The other sandpipers could draw closer to the water because of having both little legs in which the wave posed no threat. They were swifter and could outrun the wave, however the one-legged mini sandpiper could only stay at a further distance for fear the wave would overtake it.
Many people live their lives just close to the edge of the water never finding their true purpose and “why” in life. Just like the little sandpiper, we can become frustrated focusing on what we can’t do rather than what we can do. In other words, our inabilities or handicaps take center stage when we should put a spotlight on what we can do. Maybe you feel the same way being dealt many blows; being crushed between the relentless wave and the jagged rocks. Hardship seems to have followed you like a never-ending shadow that won’t quit casting on you, even during the day. Could it be possible you feel that way because of a lost job, or maybe a failed marriage, inadequate parents, past hurts, and abuse? It just feels like the waves continue to keep you from your purpose and off balance. When you compare life to others, you minimize yourself to a size of kayak in the midst of power boats in the ocean.
Today, think again. You are more than that. Let’s go back to the story of the little sandpiper. After about fifteen minutes or so of hopping back and forth missing opportunity upon opportunity, like having a dance partner who refused to be in step. The rolling waves kept him constantly at bay. However, he refused to give up, he overcompensated by using his wings. In fact, my new mini hero began hovering over the wave picking off its pray like a stealth fighter. The agility far surpassed the other sandpipers and when they all flew away to their next adventure, “Super Sandy” now nicknamed was right alongside leading the pack. Do you realize you are a Super Sandy? You possess a God given gift that was meant to be used like a stealth pilot hovering high, and just like our little friend, you were meant to pick off life’s prey in a single swoop. Today we will explore what you believe to be a weakness or handicap will fortify and strengthen your true gift and purpose. We will also examine the ways you were meant to give more meaning to the world, as others will stand in amazement at your resilience. In essence you were meant to fly and not hop.
The first step in finding purpose is to enrich and nurture your gifts and talents. You won’t find them by focusing on your inabilities or inadequacies, but in who you were meant to be. Tony Evans said it this way, “knowing God leads us into a deeper recognition of our spiritual identity. A deeper knowledge of God can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves as God’s sons and daughters.” In other words, it’s not the reflection of a mirror which cast the true image of who you are, yet it’s who you were meant to be in light of how you were created by God
Nicholas James Vujicic is a great example of living his purpose beyond limits. The world confines us in this little box of who we are supposed to be. When Nick was born, he was supposed to be born normal with complete appendages; two arms and two legs. However, Nick was born with a rare disorder called tetra-Amelia syndrome. It’s a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. The hopes and dreams of parenting with what they believed at the time was normal, was quickly dashed as his parents received the news. What was meant to be a joy, broke their hearts. Nick shares, “My stunned dad was outside, wondering whether he had seen what he thought he saw. When the pediatrician came out to speak with him, he cried out, ‘My son, he has no arm!’ ‘Actually,’ the pediatrician said as sensitively as possible, ‘your son has neither arms nor legs’. My mum couldn’t bear what she was seeing: her child without limbs. Instead of celebrating my birth, my parents and their whole church mourned”. We can feel the same, what we deem a handicap can makes us feel like it’s over, but I beg to differ. His parents embraced the new given gift of a son and looked beyond the arms and legs to a new normal.
Finding purpose allows you to see life through a new set of lenses. In a 60-minute interview Nick stated that his parent’s new quest was to discover what he was meant to be. In other words, they realized that God had a deeper purpose for their son beyond his missing limbs. They didn’t realize in the moment what it was, however, they were going to train their son to live without limits. They nurtured him in sports and outdoor events. They modified the environment giving him access to meet his individual needs as he developed independents. Purpose allows you to visualize the possibilities instead of being clouded by the impossibilities.
Developing your purpose takes time and the only way to discover it is to move from what you don’t have to what you do have. It’s imperative that you nurture your unique gifts and take them to flight. Understanding that God has created you unique helps you discover your purpose. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16 NIV). Hold fast to your calling and purpose by embracing your identity in our Heavenly Father. Simply put inside of you is the gift that has been given through him and for him. Live life to the fullest nurturing what you do have and starve all the negative voices that come from your head and others. Live the way you were created to live, in the presence of your Heavenly Father.
Next, as you long to discover your purpose understand that adversity has been placed before you as a distraction. Many miss their purpose because they marinate and live hoping to change what they really can’t change. Every waking moment is spent on pointing the finger at themselves, determined to find the answer of why this or that happened. instead, it’s important to pay it forward and live counting blessings as gifts that have been given by the creator. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). God has a purpose in mind as he continues to carve us out into His image. It takes positive momentum to move forward in finding purpose and it starts with using your gifts for good. The time you spend on doing what is right starves poor habits that have held you back.
Purpose always provides a turning point. We can clearly see this in the life of Nick Vujicic. He has impacted millions of lives despite not having arms and legs. Yet he could have forfeited it all by a senseless act of suicide. As a child he was bullied and harassed in school. He dreaded getting up in the morning and facing his foes. During an afternoon on his way back home he filled his bathtub and decided to drown himself. As the seconds seemed like an eternity and each gasping breath became a struggle, he had to make a choice. The turning point came when he reflected on the pain he would inflict on his parents and family. “I can’t do it”, he thought to himself. “God there has to be more to my life?” I could only imagine him saying, as the water dripped off his almost lifeless body. He expressed that he couldn’t bring himself to see the pain he would cast on his parents at his funeral.
Purpose is saturated in worth and when you value who you are and what value you also bring to others. It starts with one soul at a time. Your turning point is to reflect on the people who need you. Your family needs you. Your friends and community need you. The little boys and girls of this world need you. Simply put purpose is found in serving others. Ask yourself today, “how am I using my gifts to better the world?”
In finding your purpose there has to always be a point where you feel you are going down for the last count. It’s being under water that you can finally hear your heartbeat echo in the depths of the of the deep. It’s in the moments of the darkened water that you must choose to look up for a glimmer of refracted light that seems to bend away from you, or look down to a darkened abyss. As Nick mustered the strength to go back to school it was on a faithful day that his gift would align with his purpose. The answer came from humbleness and a sincere heart. The dreams developed from the calloused hands of a janitor. It was on that day as the shadow collapsed on the windowpane, and the voices of screaming children disappeared that he heard, “Nick!” He turned around to visually embrace the Janitor and lock eyes with his (I could only imagine that moment captured in time that would ignite his soul), “You speak well, and I see how you encourage your friends. Have you ever thought of being a motivational speaker and share your story of hope?” It was in that moment he realized having limbs didn’t matter. If Nick couldn’t physically touch the world, then he would touch them with his words. What about you, can you listen to your heartbeat crying to tell your story, write your book, create your song? Have you thought about your gift that would touch the world? Nick has gone on to publish his book, Life Without Limits, founded Attitude is Altitude, and consequently inspired millions of people with his story.” The seeds are in you, ready to germinate and blossom for the world to eat of its fruit.
As we close out today it’s important that you find hope in the Lord. Outside of him purpose will always be fleeting. In Jeremiah 29:11-14, the prophet Jeremiah was speaking to a group of exiled Israelites who were tempted to lose hope. They were prisoners in a foreign land living without hope or purpose. Jeremiah shares the word of the Lord, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” The people of Israel in their darkest moments were not forgotten. God had a plan for them, and a purpose interlocked with a relationship with Him. Finding purpose without God is like navigating your ship in the darkness without a compass or the stars. The closer you draw to the Lord’s light house, the clearer your purpose becomes.
The people of Israel received a new hope, though they lived in a foreign land. A renewed purpose was unleashed in which confined borders couldn’t keep in. The promise of restoration gave them hope and a new purpose as they began walking
Finally, remember that your weakness or handicap will fortify and strengthen your true gift and purpose. Just like Nick you were meant to live a life without limits. You were created to fly and not hop into your new purpose and destiny. As you grow closer into your intimate walk with God your purpose will arrive like the dawn in early morning. “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2NIV). Just as Job acknowledged, let’s believe that God will do the impossible in our lives. We are just one cast away to catching our purpose. Allow Jesus to be the bait that’s transforms your world.
Dive Deep:
- List gifts and abilities that you do well.
- In what way can you use those gifts to serve others?
- What are some negative thoughts or voices you hear from others that at times have held you back?
- Write down a vision statement for your purpose. For example: My purpose is to provide tools to equip others to find purpose and value in life, through Life Coach 180. My goal is to build media content and courses on demand to reinforce the dreams and passion of other, fueled by the discovery of the “Corner Stone”, Jesus Christ.
Nicholas James Vujicic (/ˈvuːɪtʃɪtʃ/ VOO-itch-itch;[1] born 4 December 1982)[2][3] is an Australian American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome,[4] a rare disorder characterised by the absence of arms and legs.