The Powerful Purpose of Introverts Sýnishorn

Day Seven

Live Your Powerful Purpose

Scriptures: 1 Kings 19:11-12

On a recent afternoon, I walked along the paths of the Rancho Capistrano retreat center in southern California. I carried my laptop bag and planned to find a quiet place to work. 

I watched a water bird fishing for dinner, stood still on the center of a bridge, ignored the hum of hurried traffic in the distance, chose to stay in a space of sacred quiet.

I thought of one of my favorite scenes in all of God’s story with us, one that involves another moment of quiet, one that speaks to me as an introvert. The prophet Elijah is struggling with insecurity and discouragement. He feels exhausted and alone.

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12)

I thought of how I’d looked for God in the wind—in activity, busyness, hustling to prove my worth. It almost tore my life apart. How I’d done the same through what felt like an inner earthquake, splitting my true self into pieces so I could get approval, never really feeling steady or sure. I tried fire, the flash of performance, efforts to impress. 

Then came the gentle whisper.

I started finding sustainable peace, my real purpose, as I listened to the voice that tells me I am loved and enough as is, not as I think I ought to be. On that afternoon walk, I felt grateful for how far that voice had brought me.

Then I had another thought about this story, a new one, that involved not just me but all of us.

What if we, as introverts, are created to be living echoes of the gentle whisper of God? What if that’s our powerful purpose? 

I believe God created us as introverts. He designed us with gifts and strengths. He filled us with tremendous potential. 

Let’s dare to be who we truly are. 

Let’s help others do the same.

Let’s live our powerful purpose. 

Pause to thank God for who he made you and ask him to fulfill his purpose for your life.