A Passion with Purpose
by Mary McNichols
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." — Colossians 3:17
Starting in late elementary school, my son began helping with church services. He took on various responsibilities, such as setting up equipment, running sound and lights, and filming the services. Each Sunday, he eagerly woke up and was ready to go by 6 am. As the years went by and college approached, he decided to study film and digital media. While in college, he worked at sporting venues, filmed movies, created music videos, and explored different areas to find where his passion lay.
During his last semester, he applied to a specialized program in Nashville, where he would work with college-aged Christian artists. “This is what God is calling me to do,” he shared one evening. However, just then, COVID-19 shut everything down, and he was sent home mid-semester.
With a heavy heart, he searched for a job upon graduation and found one at a church in Arizona, doing many of the tasks he had started years before. We reminded him that God had plans for him—plans we might not fully understand—and encouraged him to give thanks for what God had provided. He took our advice to heart. During this time, God honed his skills and connected him with a project that ignited his passion.
Through these connections, he began working with the Gospel Music Association. One project led to another, eventually doubling and then quadrupling until his passion for the Christian music industry became his life's purpose. He was dedicated to working with Christian artists, musicians, and their teams to spread God's word through music.
But God had plans; plans my son did not even fully understand. After close to two years in Nashville, his former church in Arizona reached out to him, sharing that they had followed his work and the skills he had honed while working with the Gospel Music Association. They said they missed him as a leader among the church staff and youth, sharing his faith and guiding others toward the future that God was leading them to pursue. When they told him they wanted him to apply for a job, he shrugged them off, insisting his passion was in Nashville. After multiple months of being pursued, he came to my husband and me. We told him to at least listen to what was offered and reminded him that God led him in directions he hadn’t expected before.
Yes, God had other plans for my son, and He guided my son back to his true passion and purpose in the church. “Mom, I’m glad I moved back. I really love working in the church setting, sharing my skills and faith with others. God knew what I was meant to do when I was very young. This is that example.” Will he remain there? Only God knows.
Accepting the small opportunities that God presents and expressing gratitude for them can lead you on a journey to discover your true purpose. God knows what that purpose is, and He uses every experience you have to prepare you for it.
Journaling:
What gifts or interests do you have that God might be calling you to use for His glory?
Are there small opportunities in your life that could lead to a greater purpose if you said "yes" to them?