From burnout to purpose: Finding joy and fulfillment in the gifts God gave you

Are you tired of wondering what in the wild—Wild West you’re doing? Running on an endless hamster wheel or work—home, work—home, work? You know that you were meant for more but life just keeps getting in the way and joy seems almost lost.

Well, my friend, there’s a cure for that.

There’s a wonderful book by Max Lucado called “Cure for the Common Life.” I read it and it really gets you thinking about how you’re using your gifts to live with purpose and get out of the everyday grind.

The Bible says God gives us gifts and talents, some may teach, others may serve and someone else may be an encourager who keeps the whole band playing and moving together.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what your gift is or how you can be used by God.

Maybe it sounds mysterious but really it’s simple.

Do what you really love to do and focus it on glorifying God and uplifting others.

I have always loved people and I’ve always loved to write and encourage others.

I remember wondering why I wasn’t fulfilled in my role as a reporter at a local newspaper.

“I’m doing what I love,” I thought. “Why am I not as happy as all these passionate people I interview? I know I should be more grateful. I just want what they have, that peaceful, excited fulfilling life.”

I really thought that way and I envied those people who were determined to serve and love and were on fire for a Higher Power.

I wanted that so badly.

Even though I was angry at God for not answering prayers like I thought He should. I was down, depressed and in a spiritual desert. Where was He in all of that?

Why didn’t I feel that feeling when I was following Him and using my writing, empathy, leadership, peacemaking, encouragement, shepherding and loving others well as a journalist?

Little did I know He was preparing me for a job as a public relations practitioner.

I would get to do all those things in a positive way. I would get to be myself in all the right ways. I would get to empathize and encourage and excite people with my writing and lend a listening ear when needed.

“You’re just in your sweet spot,” someone told me.

And it took me back to Lucado’s writing.

"Use your uniqueness (what you do) to make a big deal out of God (why you do it) everyday of your life (when you do it). At the convergence of all three, you'll find the cure for the common life: your sweet spot,” Lucado writes in his book “Cure for the Common Life.”

Then in that moment it all clicked and came full circle.

Often I’ve looked back and saw the answers to my questions and how steps appeared as I overcame things. I was building my character, working hard with my head down, letting my passionate heart lead the way to where I felt God was calling me.

And yes I have rough days.

Yet, I have learned that you can lead a fulfilled life.

But, first you must look inward and upward.

If that’s you, friend, I encourage you to do some soul searching and passion mining for yourself. Is your hobby more than a past time? Can you use it to glorify God everyday? Do you know your spiritual gifts or natural talents and are you putting them to good use?

I challenge you to do so if you aren’t.

And if you have some questions, explore the Word, check out the quiz below and even Max’s book for direction and next steps.

Use your gifts to glorify God and to change the world around you. They were given to you for a purpose by the Creator of the universe. That is a truth none of us should take lightly.

Spiritual Gifts Test: https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/women-leadership-spiritual-gifts-growth-service

Max’s Book: https://a.co/d/5DMukk4

Scripture about talents and spiritual gifts (generated by ChatGPT):

1. Matthew 25:15 (NLT)

“He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.”

(This verse is from the Parable of the Talents — called “bags of silver” in NLT.)

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2. 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (NLT)

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

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3. Romans 12:6–8 (NLT)

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.

If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

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4. Ephesians 4:11–13 (NLT)

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

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5. 1 Peter 4:10–11 (NLT)

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.

All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”