St. Francis of Assisi said, “I have done what was mine to do; may God teach you what is yours to do.” I often hope, wish and pray that I am listening during the moments when God is teaching me what is mine to do.

Considering the abundance of books, presentations, speeches, coaching programs, memes and so on, that are intended to help people “find their passion,” “live a life of purpose,” or “become the person you were born to be,” it seems a lot of people are in search of their life’s meaning. They seek answers to “What is mine to do?”

I keep desiring the aha moment when I will feel a great sense of assurance, “I am now doing what I am supposed to do. The rest of my life can now be lived out according to a clear plan and direction.” Truth is, I have no expectation that such clarity will ever come.

The answer, I believe –as in, a statement of truth and of faith – is that knowing what to do in the moment leads to a life that delivers on what is our own to do. I also believe, that somewhere along the path, we realize that our concerns about how the future will provide the measure of our success robs us of that destiny and purpose.

It is not always easy to hold onto those beliefs. It rarely is, but there are three keys to make it through the moments with a belief that they are the opportunities of instruction when we can learn what is ours to do.

Trust

While most well-meaning guides tell us that our future is our own hands and that we should use our own knowledge to craft our lives, the truth is otherwise. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Trusting removes the pressure of having to evaluate every choice we make as to whether it fits into a grand scheme of life’s purpose. Live as Christ taught us and trust that doing so will provide purpose in the moment and lead to purpose for living.

Faith

Faith gets us from the moment to the future, which, hopefully, includes eternity in Heaven. Hebrews 11:1-2 clarifies, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faithour ancestors received approval.” While many of the self-improvement products require plans and clarity to get from now to the future, faith is what holds us together and provides us strength, courage and persistence as we quest to things unseen. St. Paul proudly stated to Timothy that he had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith; so it is ours to do, too.

Patience

There are always times of doubt. If saints and apostles had doubts, which they did and are shared in their writings, surely it is normal, and not unexpected for me to have them. And you. James 2:1-8, states “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

“If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Patience helps keep doubts at bay, providing a more stable journey upon which we can receive God’s blessings, including the clarity of our purpose.”

Pray for instruction; trust, have faith and patience, and live as Jesus told us to. You will be living what you are meant to do.

“Show me my way in life and I’ll build you a shrine.” Danny Thomas’ prayer to St. Jude. The result:  St. Jude Hospital