Purpose vs. Assignment | For Such a Time as This (Part 2)

What did God tell you to do? What unique assignments has God given you? What burdens has God placed on your heart to pick up?

In the previous blog post, we discussed what our purpose is. Though purpose and assignment are two different things, they are directly connected to one another. Today, we're going to pick up where we left off and discuss purpose vs. assignment, along with how obedience to our assignments qualifies us for the promises of God in our lives.

Being Used by God Despite Limitations

Consider this question: Do you see yourself primarily through the lens of your failures, circumstances, and limitations, or do you consider the potential of who you could become?

Most of the time, the way we see ourselves is entirely different from how God sees us. God's view of who we are is bigger and better than what we think of ourselves. We are often our biggest critic, focusing so much on our flaws that we make them louder than what God says about us. The truth is, when we focus too much on our limitations, making them louder than what God says and thinks about us, it hinders what He wants to do through us. When there is a lack of understanding of our true identity in Christ, it stops us from reaching the full potential of who He has called us to be, hindering both our purpose and assignments.

Thankfully, we can look at the lives of many others who stepped into their God-given assignments, despite their human limitations and unfavorable circumstances.

When God called Gideon to rescue His people and to tear down the altars of his father's house, he questioned God, and his response was rooted in his feelings of inadequacy. He argued that he was the least in his family and that he was "too young," but God called Gideon a "mighty man of valor," affirming who He had already called him to be before he went out and fulfilled his assignment. God already knew what Gideon had the potential to do and be, and it was only through God alone that he had the strength he needed to go forth in battle. God promised to be with him, and He was faithful in that promise. (Read the full story in Judges chapters 6-8).

Joseph was the second youngest of his 11 brothers and well-loved by his father. His brothers were jealous and envious of him. They mocked him, sold him into slavery, and even faked his death to their father. During Joseph's time in Egypt, he experienced trials and spent many years in prison due to a false accusation, but the favor of the Lord was with him everywhere he went. What the enemy meant for evil, God used for Joseph's good. God gave purpose to everything Joseph went through, making him a prosperous ruler. God even used Joseph's gift of dream interpretation to advance him! Joseph was the one whom God used to save his entire family, including his brothers who betrayed him, during an extreme famine. (Read full story in Genesis chapters 37-50).

Esther, an orphan of Jewish descent, raised by her cousin Mordecai, was strategically placed in position as queen when her whole nation needed deliverance. Her identity as a Jew could have gotten her killed, which automatically placed her at a disadvantage, but she had no idea that the position she was placed in would put her at an advantage to help her very own people. While chaos broke out and the lives of her own people were threatened, she took a bold stance to save herself and her people at the expense of her own life. Through this story, we learn that God's invisible hand was heavily present in Esther's life, even when she didn't see it. (Read the full story in Esther chapters 1-10).

The point I want to make is this: God has you here on purpose, for a purpose. No matter who you are, no matter what your circumstances look like, no matter what family you come from, and no matter the limitations on your life. Your circumstances may be unfavorable and it may look impossible to see your God-given potential outside of your limitations but there's good news! God didn't intend for these things to be the end-all be-all for your story. Instead, He sees you through the lens of who He has already called you to be, and He desires to change your identity from the one you were once familiar with.

"What's my assignment?"

It's important not to confuse your purpose with your assignment.

Our individual assignments, in contrast to our God-given purpose, which we discussed in the previous blog post, are the many different avenues we will take in order to fulfill that purpose. Simply put, our purpose to advance the Kingdom of God is embedded in our assignments. For example, I can't say that this blog you're reading is my purpose. However, it is more fitting to say that this blog is an assignment from God, which is being used as one of many avenues to fulfill the purpose of advancing God's kingdom. The same can be said for job occupations and other titles or pursuits. The many titles and roles you take on in life are not your purpose; however, some are God-given assignments, which are ultimately being used to fulfill God's purpose and advance the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Let's revisit Esther. One important lesson that we learn from her is that obedience qualified her for the promise of her life being saved, as well as her nation being saved from death. If Esther hadn't obeyed the call, her people would have died. Yes, it was that serious! God knew exactly why He placed her in that position at that specific time. Even Mordecai, her own kin, reaped the benefits of her obedience! Her position as a queen wasn't her purpose, but instead, it was a divine assignment God placed her on to fulfill His ultimate purpose by displaying His glory and power to turn the tables in what seemed like an unchangeable situation.

"For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father's house will perish. [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?" Esther 4:14 AMP

If Esther hadn't fulfilled the assignment she was placed on, God could have surely used someone else to bring forth deliverance to her people, but most likely at the expense of them being destroyed, including Esther herself. The jews were doomed to perish if she didn't speak up. Though Esther was the queen at the time, she wasn't exempt from death because she was a Jew herself, the very ethnic group that was the target for death. But obedience saved her. If someone else had answered the call, they themselves would have taken part in the promises and blessings that came with the faithfulness of fulfilling that assignment. It's a humbling thing to know that we can be replaced. Knowing this helps us understand that God has specifically and single-handedly called each one of us to do unique things that will result in change on the earth for His glory alone.

Another, yet important revelation that I received from Esther's story is that God won't send us out and not make sure that there is protection and provision in the places in which He calls us to. When Esther went before the king unannounced she could have died, but God protected her and granted her favor with the king instead! God is a God who grants His children favor with those in authority! He will soften their hearts like feathers toward us if it has anything to do with His will being done through His chosen vessels.

Our obedience doesn't just benefit us, but it is connected to the freedom and breakthrough of others, including our own family, and God will surely protect us and make sure we come out of every situation untouched and unhindered. Just like Gideon and Joseph, we see that their obedience to their God-given assignments qualified them for the promises of God for their lives. Gideon's perceived inadequacy didn't disqualify him from what God called him to do, nor did Joseph's circumstance of being in prison hinder God's plan for him to be exalted as a rich ruler in due time. However, because they obeyed God in spite of their circumstances and remained faithful, believing in God, this is what qualified them.

Stop looking at your limitations and circumstances and placing limits on God because of them. God has no limits when we allow Him to use us for His glory.

Be encouraged, my brothers and sisters. You are here on purpose for such a time as this! Whatever God calls you to do, know that you are the person for the job! THAT'S WHY HE CALLED YOU TO DO IT AND NOT ANYONE ELSE! HE HAS ALREADY QUALIFIED YOU, AND HE PROMISED TO BE WITH YOU!

Ultimately, if neither of these individuals answered the assignment given to them, someone was in danger: the Jews, God's people, or Joseph's family.

So now my question to you is: If you don't speak up or obey your God-given assignment, who’s being endangered?

 Reflect on these questions and take them to God in prayer:

1. Who's being endangered if I continue to stay silent and not speak up? If I settle for comfort, whose life or salvation is on the line if I don't choose to obey God?

2. What assignments have God given me? Are there any assignments that I know I'm called to, but have been reluctant to fulfill?

3. How can I actively fulfill my purpose through my current assignment/s?

4. Am I glorifying God in my daily life or living in a way that encourages others around me to seek the heart of God?

It takes a journey to get to the promise!

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Say this prayer

"God, I thank you that I am the man/woman for each unique assignment You've given me. I'm sorry for any time that I've allowed my human limitations to reap the fruit of disobedience to what You were calling me to do. Show to me and reveal to me every assignment that you want me to bring to completion in this season, for such a time as this. Speak to every inadequate feeling, and replace it with Your truth of who I am in You. May I choose obedience over comfort, knowing that my obedience is attached to someone else's breakthrough. In Jesus's name I pray, amen."

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