FINDING YOUR PASSION

By Jonathan Clark

While attending a recent high school graduation, I listened as one of the speakers encouraged her fellow graduates to find their passion in life and discover and pursue what they were truly passionate about. She was exhorting them not to get caught up in the usual trivial pursuits of life—greed, the rat-race, the ho-hum—but rather, to “make a difference” by pursuing their passion.

I have, of late, been thinking quite a bit about passion. It seems that “passion” has become a theme among inspirational speakers and writers—and for good reason. Pursuing a passion not only involves direction and focus; pursuing passion involves motivation and purpose. We all need purpose and meaning in our lives. A worthwhile purpose motivates us to get out of bed and spend our time in pursuit of it. Each of us must have purpose and motivation, truly believing that our lives have meaning and value—that we are “making a difference.” This is man’s deepest need.

Jesus found His passion: “For I have come…not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Jesus had discovered the key, the secret to His earthly life—to daily please the heart of His Father (John 4:34, 5:30; Matthew 26:39). He wasn’t interested in pursuing His own agendas. He knew that self-motivated goals would be empty and unfruitful and lead to a life of burn-out. He had found what motivated Him to get out of bed every morning. He was passionate about pleasing His Father.

Over time, I have discovered my passion. I have found what motivates me to get out of bed in the morning. My passion has become what was Jesus’ passion: to get up each day and spend time with the Lord, discern His plans for my day, and go do it with the strength He supplies! Jesus was a Father-pleaser, and His passion is my passion: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Pleasing Father God’s heart satisfies my heart. Passionately pursuing God’s agenda for my day motivates me and renews my vitality. Serving God’s purposes allows me a path in which to serve others, not myself. Without sounding cliché, discovering and fulfilling God’s plans for my day is “my calling,” my reason to be. This passion—His passion and now my passion—is a sustaining motivator. It has been well worth it for me to take the time to find and fulfill God’s passion for my life!

Jonathan Clark is associate pastor of Abundant Life Covenant Church and a physician in Springfield, Missouri.

God-Inspired