Recently, during one of our small group meetings, a teenage girl asked me, “How did you find your purpose?” This came about because I was encouraging the girls to ask a woman that they admire or look up to, how they found their purpose in life. I don’t know if I was a woman they looked up to but I realized that it was an opportunity to share my story.

We all at some point come to this point in our life where we wonder if this was what we were created to do or if there is more for us in this life. For some people that time is while they are finishing high school and beginning to look at college and for others it may be further down the road when they are unsatisfied in their current job or situation. Either way, it’s an important moment.

So, how did I find my purpose in life? To start we have to go back to my high school days. Overall, I had a great childhood and grew up in a wonderful Christian home. My parents are very loving and supportive and I got along with my siblings pretty well. But even through all that, I was a girl that lacked self confidence and was desperately seeking others for approval, value and worth. This led to me making many poor decisions and choices. After a really low point in my life, my junior year in high school, I decided that I needed to make some changes and live my life differently. It was in my senior year of high school that we were given an assignment to write a paper, basically saying what you wanted to do with your life. At the time I didn’t think much about it, and all I remember was that I was very passionate about what I was writing.

Fast forward a little. I am now going into my second year of college and my major is in broadcasting. I don’t feel that is what I am “called to do” or my “purpose in life” but it was something. At this point, I was not happy with the major and wanted to be doing something more. I was visiting my parents one weekend and I found the paper I had written my senior year of high school. I remember reading it and it ignited a deep passion within me. I had written about how I wanted to serve and work with teenage girls that had difficulties in life – exactly what I had been through. After reading that I went back to my college and started to pray that God would show me what I was to do. After a few weeks, I found out from a friend that the college had just created a new major called, Youth Developmental Studies and its entire focus was working with teenagers! I was so excited and switched my major as fast as I could.

My first job after college was working at a domestic violence shelter with children. It was through that job that God made things very clear for me. I realized that my purpose, passion and heart is…
for teenage girls to feel loved and accepted and that no matter what life circumstances come their way, they will live their life to their fullest God-given potential!

Here I am, 14 years later, still with the same purpose, passion and heart. I am so encouraged to see a girl find her identity in Christ and live her life abundantly with confidence and strength that only comes from a relationship with Jesus!

So, my challenge and encouragement to you, as you read this, is to keep seeking God for your purpose or calling. I believe with all my heart that God has something specifically just for YOU! He created you for a purpose that only YOU can fulfill!!

If you know your purpose, live it out!!
Give all that you have to SHINE brightly in this world and honor God in all you do.
Be an example for other girls, your friends, colleagues, and sisters.

And remember…
There is nothing that you can do that can make God love you any less!!

Shine Bright!

-A.C.

“I will cry to God Most High, who accomplishes all things on my behalf for He completes my purpose in His plan.” – Psalms 57:2

“ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” – John 10:10