God places immense potential in all of us, yet many people overlook the genius He has placed in us. Stephen Chandler, the founder and senior pastor of Maryland's Union Church, an ARC church member, says that discovering his own unique genius was one of the driving factors in unlocking his potential.
It's easy to be sucked into the comparison game, always looking at your own life through the lens of what someone else is doing, how someone else looks, and how easy (or hard) they might have it.
As ARC Churches explains, when we do this, though, it makes it easy to miss the fact that God already equips each and every one of us with everything we need to do in life.
The Key to Your Purpose
Stephen Chandler, a partner of ARC (Association of Related Churches), says that, much like a car, everyone's purpose has a key, what he calls their genius. To be able to arrive at greatness, you need to track down that key.
All people have talents, abilities, traits and gifts that they are born with. Many of these gifts are similar in each person.
Yet, at the same time, everyone has a unique genius that God has given them. Finding that genius will allow you to unlock the horsepower you need for your purpose so you can race toward God's greatness, he says.
It can be easy to see this genius in other people but challenging to find it within yourself. Much like a key to a car, again, you can lose your key from time to time, but it'll always be there, waiting to be found.
What to Look for
God graces us all with genius, and we don't get to pick the genius. God gives everyone specific abilities that will help them fulfill their specific purpose, withholding other geniuses that are irrelevant.
People tend to focus too much on areas of genius that God didn't grant them rather than being appreciative of the ones He did. Your own unique genius is what unlocks your own unique purpose. A key that someone else has won't be able to drive your purpose, just as their car key wouldn't drive your car.
If you want to find your purpose, then you need to start by asking core questions.
The Questions to Ask
Stephen Chandler, a leader of an ARC church, says you need to ask what you give that other people love to receive. Then, ask who affirms your giftedness.
This starting point will help lead you down the path of finding your unique purpose. It can be something very simple such as being able to tell stories or brightening up other people's day when they're feeling down.
You have many unique gifts to give, but which ones are others most honored, blessed, and excited to receive? What do they come to you searching for?
Next, ask where you see God's favor, what can't you turn off, and what captures your attention.
Asking these questions and being honest with your answers will allow you to pay more attention to what's right in front of you, which will help you identify the genius inside of you.
About ARC (Association of Related Churches)
ARC (Association of Related Churches) is a cooperative of independent churches from diverse denominations, networks, and backgrounds that strategically resource church planters and pastors to help them reach people with the message of Jesus. ARC operates with a strategic focus on empowering church planters and pastors, equipping them to effectively spread the transformative message of Jesus. Since its beginning in 2000, ARC has grown into a global organization and has helped plant more than 1,000 churches.
