My Story, Your Glory: 5 Days to Discovering the Journey God Has Planned for YouChikamu

Day 3: My Purpose, Your Glory

Early in my career my answer was always “yes” when I was asked to sing somewhere. It didn’t matter where, how, or to whom, my response was always, “I’m in!” As you can imagine, this led me into many, shall we say, “interesting” experiences. I performed at youth groups, retirement homes, schools, birthdays, weddings, funerals, churches, and even a biker bar. One time, I was even booked to perform at a West Virginia school of mining (yes, you read that correctly). I wondered if my concert was going to be underground and considered the very real possibility that my audience would be wearing hard hats and have faces soiled by soot from the coal mines.

When I drove to West Virginia from Tennessee, I was surprised to find that the campus was a complete ghost town. I saw posters promoting my show on the walls of the student center, but there were no students anywhere. I wandered around for a half hour before I could finally track down a real human being. “I’m sorry, there must have been a scheduling mix-up,” the guy explained. “This weekend is our fall break. All the students have gone home. But you are welcome to still play if you want to get paid.” So, I set up my gear, took out my guitar, and played my whole set to an empty room. And that night went down in the history books for me as my smallest audience ever at a show.

The truth is that I was humiliated that night in West Virginia. I finished my evening by soothing my sorrows with a Bloomin’ Onion at the local Outback Steakhouse— right next to the Red Roof Inn where I would sleep before making the long drive back to Nashville. These days I’m thankful to see a couple more people attending my concerts than I had that night, but I can also find myself becoming fixated on the wrong things. How many people am I reaching? How many people came to my concert? How many people am I really impacting? Does the audience like me? Are they singing along with the new songs? Is my latest song going to be a hit? The truth is that God is not concerned with that stuff. It turns out I learned a big lesson from that West Virginia concert for no one.

I realized how easy it can be to lose sight of why we are actually here. God’s calling, our purpose, has nothing to do with the approval of an audience. No matter our line of work or our purpose in life, it is human nature to get overly concerned with pleasing the wrong people. The apostle Paul explains in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Paul says that pleasing the crowd isn’t a story that gives God glory. The world always talks about “chasing a dream,” but far more satisfying (and eternal) than a dream is pursuing God’s calling for your life. We’ve all been uniquely designed with special gifts, talents, relationships, and responsibilities, and God has placed us here for a purpose. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a teacher, a garbage collector, or a college student, there is no heavenly hierarchy in God’s kingdom. He’s concerned about the eternal impact of your life, which is why He is the only audience who matters.

Looking back, as humiliating as it felt to be standing in that student center singing to an empty room, I see it differently now. In fact, these days as I step into a crowded church, a packed theater, or a standing-room-only arena, I often close my eyes and see myself back in that college singing my heart out to the One who made me and gives me purpose. I live my life for an audience of one. My only aim is to fulfill His calling on my life and let God take care of the rest. I may not see the results of my efforts, but as long as I’ve done what God has called me to do, then I can rest knowing that my purpose will somehow bring God glory.

I want to be like that servant in Matthew 25 who takes the Master’s investment and faithfully multiplies it. I want to hear “well done” from the only one who matters. My story is for Him. My songs are for Him. Whether I hear the applause of man or the criticism of the crowd, it does not define me or decide if my story is successful.

Wherever you are in your story today, keep your eyes fixed on Him for your approval so that your purpose can bring Him glory.

CRAFT YOUR STORY

Name an area in your life where God is calling you to turn your focus to Him. What is your purpose? Is it a talent? A relationship? A responsibility? Write about what it means for you to look to Him for approval in this area of your life.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Spend some time thinking about how it feels when you look only to God for approval rather than to everyone else. Write about a situation in your life where you have done that. What was the result? How can you encourage others to do the same? Share that instance with someone in your family, small group, or faith community today.