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The greatest tragedy is not death but a life without purpose. Rick Warren

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:10 Amplified

What is it that is in us that keeps us going in life though we may not have a sense of purpose or a clear vision for our life?

I believe it's a drumbeat in us that keeps the question alive in us. And this drumbeat beats louder when we begin to realize there's something greater in this life than meeting our own wants and desires and its spiritual in nature. All of us have a need or desire to do something great, but our fallen self-has infiltrated the motives of our desires. When the motive is self-based, it leads away from the purposes of God. Our desire may be good, but the motive turns the attention to us and not God. Then the drum beats out of sync with your God given destiny.

Most of the time the drumbeat is a subtle resemblance of a heartbeat.

Your heart is quiet and rhythmic and it has a specific function. It keeps you alive.

So it is with the drumbeat of destiny. It beats a quiet calling into your future that is beyond your imagination, keeping your spirit alive.

It's rhythmic with its relentless whisper, always pursuing your spirit, wooing your desires to fulfillment. Certain pains and problems surround your destiny to smother and suffocate the life out of it. But destiny and purpose are a tag team to be reckoned with. They fight the resistance and in spite of the resistance, destiny has a specific purpose that leads you beyond yourself. It exceeds all hidden limitations that cloud your true and powerful purpose. Your destiny, if you allow it, will dig into the deepest parts of your being and pull out a life perspective that challenges your assumption concerning your life. It challenges the learned viewpoint parents, teachers and friends might have taught you. Your drumbeat of destiny will always pull you beyond yourself and your needs.

This drumbeat is a vital source of life for you and others. This drumbeat will keep you from a zombi-otic life chaining you to a TV, mediocrity or hopelessness.

The drumbeat is a call to battle for a life worth living and dying for. It's a call to a shake off lethargy, apathy, and indifference to living a life of emotional and spiritual freedom. It's a call to reach beyond yourself and fulfill a predestined life to bring hope and help to others.

That being said, there is something we must face.

Darkness

For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 Amplified

Darkness has a beat of its own. It's a loud and boisterous beat always wanting first place in your mind and heart. It forever beats to counter any beats of hope and throughout your life it seeks to train you to beat your own drum to the tune of desolation and despair. The Drumbeat of Darkness in the form of life's pains, sorrows and heartbreaks seek to keep you living in quiet bitterness, anger and resentment over the loss of your joy and desire. It continually requests your agreement to your dreaded fate. It's rhythm is designed to beat you deeper into darkness until you cannot find your way out and lose all desire to do so.

That was depressing.

I'm not done yet, but better yet, neither is God.

It is a strange thing to be in deep darkness. Years ago I toured a deep underground cave. At one point, the guide had us stop and he shut the dim lights off. How dark is dark? We couldn't see our hands in front of our faces. And, at times, this is the kind of darkness we can find ourselves emotionally and spiritually. This could be a good thing if it draws us to the Father to seek refuge.

It was in my darkest days where I saw the reflections of my heart and the shining light of Hope. Andy Castro

Standing in the darkened cave gave me a sense of helplessness. This is the same place the Father wants to take us in this life. A place of helplessness brings us to the reality our absolute need for Him and Him alone. It is a place where self-reliance disappear and self-help dissipates. It reminds us we don't make God, He makes us. Darkness somehow enlightens us to the fact that we cannot do one stinking thing if it wasn't for God holding it all together. It is by mere grace we can take our next breath. It's in the darkness of life where truth is illuminated. We find the Father's faithfulness in the dark. We find freedom from fear in the dark. And many times we find a revised version of our destiny in the dark. The Drumbeat of Destiny is easier to hear without the visual distractions of the world.

If we choose to let God do a work in us, we will find we have the ability to tune out the drumbeat of darkness and learn the lessons of being in the dark. The dark places teach us to hear God. It teaches us patience and to be at peace in the midst of the unknown. In the darkness, God breaks the chains of bitterness, anger and resentment and restores our joy. In the darkness, God brings to life our long lost desires and prepares us to live them out.

Darkness is a part of life.

What will you do in it?

Will you call on the Father

or

Will you try to figure a way out?

Will you embrace the darkness

or

Will you fall into despair?

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

I suggest to call on the Father and remember He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

Call on the Spirit to guide your steps in the darkness and lead you to the Light.

He will lead you to journal or read a book.

He will have you read certain scriptural text or sit quietly in His presence.

He will bring up hidden issues or whisper His graces into your heart.

The Father will use many tools and ways to perfect you.

It is a life long process. But if you commit to the process, you will be changed from the inside out. You will begin to see your great value and purpose in this life. You will begin to see the work you have been called to do and the life you have been called to live. But most importantly, you will experience the presence of the Father and come to know of His great love for you and humanity. In turn, His great love will become the driving force to complete the call on your life.

Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15 Amplified

Your greatest life will come after walking through the valley of the shadow of death. The greatest work of Jesus came after the cross. In His greatest darkness, He conquered death. In Him, you will also.

Andy

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept