Many of us live as defined by our limitations. These limitations are imposed upon us by others or adopted by us. As a result, our future is limited by what others tell us and what we begin to believe about ourselves. As a result, we live “normal” and mediocre lives, unable or perhaps unwilling to experience life at our full capacity.

According to Jesus, we were created with unlimited potential in the area of spiritual influence as part of His New Kingdom. Our fears, weaknesses, past mistakes, regrets, and background do not have to keep us from impacting others in dramatic ways.

It's in middle school and high school that we seem to struggle most with discovering who we are. We try so hard to fit in that we lose ourselves trying to become like others. We take on the identity of our group, our clique. Growing up in the 80s, we had our popular jocks and cheerleaders, the band geeks, the choir and drama nerds, the new wavers who listened to The Cure, or the Ropers who wore Cowboy boots. All of us seemed to be so desperate to belong that we would try to become someone we weren't.

But have we made much progress since junior high?

So often we pretend to be someone we aren't and people still don't like us! Think of how much time and energy we have wasted trying to please people who will never be pleased with us!

Rather than limiting our future by focusing on the limitations imposed on us, we can see the future clearly when instead we consider the possibilities.

Discovering our calling frees us from these imposed limitations and gives us clarity.

Unfortunately, knowing your purpose is rare.

Here are a couple of telling statistics:

The Gallup organization interviewed almost 2 million employees in over 100 companies in 63 countries. When asked this question: "At work do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?" Only 20% said that "yes" at least at some point during the day they used their strengths. 80% said that they were never asked to do what they do best.

As a result, 4 out of every 5 of us are more likely to hate our job, to leave our job, and if we stay, we aren't as productive nor as enjoyable to others as we could be.

Another statistic from a different set of research shows that we don't know what the priorities are for the company where we work.

Before we judge our workplace, we should notice that only 6% of those surveyed even know their own priorities.

In our culture we seem to have an identity crisis. We lack clarity and purpose!

Even still, deep within we have an intrinsic desire that drives us towards progress. We desire to become someone who matters. We long for purpose and meaning in life.

The dictionary defines "becoming" as "any process of change." According to the philosopher Aristotle, "becoming" is any change from the lower level of potentiality to the higher level of actuality

Have you discovered who you were created to be? Do you know your calling in life?

Lets do a quick assessment. In your mind just answer "yes" or "no" to the following questions:

• Do you ever feel unsure of what to do in life?
• Are you wandering from job to job?
• Do you ever have a sense of dissatisfaction with where you are and what you are doing?
• Do you ever find yourself on a cycle you cannot seem to stop experiencing? For example, you overcome an addiction only to fall back into it? You lose weight only to gain it back?
• In your life, do you seem to start things strong only for them to end badly?
• Do you ever wish God would just tell you what to do?
• Ever wonder what you are supposed to be when you grow up?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, choose to use this season to make progress in becoming who you were created to be.

It is possible that with effort and God’s help we could change the trajectory of our entire lives.

We regret our past, and we don’t know who we are in the present. It’s no wonder that we are so afraid of our future!