Made For This

Have you had one of those life-shifting moments where you realize with a start, “this changes everything”? I was 18, life stretched before me, every ambition possible. Looking back, I’m still unsure why I agreed to go. The whole week was miserable, and the legalistic rules of camp a reminder of why I had decided Christianity wasn’t for me. Yet on the last night, while singing some 90’s praise chorus I’ve long since forgotten, wind blew sparks from the campfire and the Holy Spirit set my heart aflame. In one moment, every plan I had for my life was derailed, for not one of them had involved following Christ.

Growing up I was in church every time the doors were open, and I’d heard Ephesians 2:8-9 quoted so often I knew it by heart. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourself. It is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Years later I learned verse ten, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.  For a young (exhausted) stay at home mom of many kids, these words were a balm for my calloused heart. As I changed diapers, read stories, cleaned up messes and did laundry for days, I mourned the dreams I let die when I chose to go where Jesus led. Ephesians 2:10 cleared my vision. God opened my eyes through His Word, to show me that all along, this family, these kids, and the hard, mundane work was what I was called to in that season. While I hadn’t been saved by any good works, I had surely been saved to do them. Even more, this was God’s plan for my life all along. I just didn’t know it when I was 18.

We asked some of the Bridge youth “What thought or feeling or word comes to your mind when you think about the truth of Ephesians 2:10”. Here are some of their responses.

“I think about God knowing all in advance. It makes me feel known.”- Amelia

“It gives me hope knowing God knows the plan and knows what I am going through.” -Everett

“He knows my path and I should trust in him.”- Anna

“God created us for the purpose to exalt his name and follow him, to do as he teaches us to and to spread his name to people unaware, to be fishers of men.”

-Benny

“This makes me feel like I have a purpose, and that I was made to do something special. I feel at ease knowing that I will do great things, and it has already been planned.”- Lily

“It gives me the feeling of being complete and wanted.”- Brooklyn

“That’s AMAZING!!!”- Sophia

“I feel calm, because everything is planned out.”- Will

“Important”- Fletcher

“It makes me think of an old kind man who makes beautiful pieces from wood by hand. I feel special.” -Ira

“It is comforting to know that even if I have no idea where my life is going, God has good, good plans for me and is working everything out for my good and His glory.” -Hannah

Friends, you are God’s workmanship. His hand is on your life! As we witness the students at The Bridge leading us in worship this Sunday, I pray we will be inspired by their faith and stirred to action. No matter our age, it’s never too early or too late to walk in the good works we were created for and called to.

Natalie