Pursue: Chasing Your Purpose

By Randy Robinson

God is preparing you for greatness. When the appointed time comes, He is going to use you in ways you never dreamed possible and the world will wonder where you came from.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543902938

Book preview

Robinson

Chapter 1

Passion for Purpose

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

It was sixth period that day in seventh grade when my name was called over the intercom. The voice on the speaker said, Mr. McLean, can you please send Randy Robinson to the office? It was a tense and somewhat nervous moment for me. My first thought was that perhaps my mother wanted to pick me up early from school. My stomach clenched. Mr. McLean asked, Should Randy bring his things to be checked out?

No, he will be returning to class once he is done.

I started toward the classroom door. Every seventh-grade eyeball in the room was trained on me. Everybody wondered what mischief I’d been up to. Actually, I wondered what I had been up to since I couldn’t remember doing anything to get into trouble.

I calmly walked down the hallway and into the principal’s office only to be told that the guidance counselor needed to see me. I had never talked to a guidance counselor before. What did a guidance counselor do, anyway? And why would he or she want to talk to me?

Within a few minutes, a warmly smiling face appeared, and asked me to step inside her office. I was relieved she was smiling since that probably meant I wasn’t in the trouble as I had feared. Trouble, in those days, meant a paddle applied to the butt.

I took a seat in her office, and she began to ask me questions. How do you like school? Who is your favorite teacher? What is your favorite class? Do you play any sports?

I answered each question posed to me as best I could. Why was she asking me all these questions? I didn’t know, but I did know it beat getting a paddling, so I didn’t mind answering them.

Then she asked me the most important question of all: What do you want to do when you grow up?

I did not hesitate one second. I want to be a preacher.

She looked at me strangely. Why a preacher? Why not become a policeman or fireman?

I suppose policeman or fireman was the generic answer she heard from most boys my age.

Because I enjoy helping people, I said. You know? When they are upset like when they get their feelings hurt.

Once again she attempted to deter me. How about music? Everyone loves music. Have you ever thought about singing?

No, I said. I just want to be a preacher. Then I can go see people when they are in the hospital and speak at funerals if they need me too.

She looked at me as if to not further challenge my ambition for wanting to become a preacher one day. She said I could return to class but if I ever wanted to talk to her again, I could stop by her office anytime.

What do you want to accomplish in life?

Do you remember the first time someone asked you what you wanted to do when you grew up? Perhaps you had hopes of becoming a rock star, a teacher, a nurse, or maybe you wanted to become a policeman or policewoman. Each of us will answer that question differently because our passions are different. Each person has a different purpose to fulfill. Everyone has different goals, hopes, or dreams.

How do you define purpose? The Greek word for purpose is touto, which means that thing. What is that thing that drives you? What is that thing you are passionate about? What is that thing you think about constantly? Your passion is that thing you cannot go one day without thinking about. It consumes your thoughts. Not only do you think about you, but you talk about it too. You talk about it to your family, friends, co-workers and anyone else that will listen.

Although I am not a preacher today, thirty-two years after being asked that question, I am in the business of encouraging and helping people. As a mental health professional and author, I get paid to help people during some of the toughest times in their lives. Helping people was what I was born to do. It is my passion. I enjoy empowering people to believe they will make it through any situation in life, no matter how bad it may seem. I talk to people who are battling with poor health, relationship problems, or financial dilemmas.

I encourage you to get my book Believe One More Day if you are facing tough times in your own life. With God’s help, I have come through my own hard times, and I know you will come through yours as well.

For a better understanding of the word passion, let’s turn to its biblical definition. In Greek, the word passion is paschō, which means to suffer. What is the thing that causes you the greatest pain? For me, it is seeing people sad or defeated. Whatever pains you may be a key to unlocking your passion.

All of us need passion. Without it, we become apathetic and unproductive. We were made to dream big, to reach our goals, to pursue our passion throughout our lives. Having passion for our purpose is the difference between achieving your dreams or quitting in the attempt.

What is your passion? Take a minute to write on the lines below what your response is to this question: What do you want to do when you grow up? You might be thirteen years old, as I was the first time I answered this question, or you may be sixty. No matter what age we are, all of us must answer this question. Write your answer on the lines provided below.

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Mark Twain once said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." You were born to pursue your purpose. Sometimes that purpose is crystal clear. Other times we may have to dip deep inside ourselves and ask God to show us why we were born. No one is an accident. God does not create accidents. He creates people in His image to complete their purpose. Once you discover why you are here, you gain a confidence that you were uniquely made to contribute to society and impact the world around you.

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. Jeremiah 29:11

God has a plan for your life. As a matter of fact, He has plans not just a plan. His plans are to prosper you! The word prosper, used in Jeremiah 29:11, is the Hebrew word shalom, which also means peace. God wants you to function out of a place of peace. He desires you to have peace by knowing that He has placed His purpose inside of you. He will give you the strength you need to complete it.

Your responsibility is to keep that passion burning deep within you. Satan will try everything in his power to quench the fire, but make up your mind that you are not going to allow him to steal your passion—no matter how many distractions he tries. If you can keep yourself passionate about your purpose, then no obstacle will be able to stop you.

Keep the passion burning by making your purpose