Thursday, August 13, 2015

Have You Found Your Passion Yet?


Something I have noticed with the younger generations is the word "passion." I don't remember my generation using this word. Lately, I have heard that one must wait to find a career they're "passionate" about and husbands wanting their wives to pursue their "passion." Meanwhile, these men who are waiting to feel "passionate" about a job or career are not working and women are looking here and there trying to find their "passion." 

Are we meant to work when we finally find our "passion" and should it be a woman's goal to find what is her "passion?" No, God commands that whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might {Ecclesiastes 9:10} Whatever you can find to do or what needs to be done, do it; no need to wait until you're passionate! And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you {1 Thessalonians 4:11} And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men {Colossians 3:23}. I don't see anywhere in the Bible that we are to find our "passion"; that this should be our goal in life.

Nothing in life should be based upon "passion" but on being obedient to the Lord and doing His will for our lives which is to work hard. Men's job is to protect and provide for their families if they are married and women's job is to be a help meet to their husband if they are married, mother to their children if they have children and a keeper at home. It has nothing whatsoever to do with "passion." In fact, here is what the Bible says about passions, "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires"{Galatians 5:24}.

In today's generation, passion has become a good and positive word instead of a negative word! It's something the young are told and encouraged to pursue instead of godliness, purity and holiness. I don't remember my children ever using this word, probably because Ken and I never used this word. The only passion we knew that was positive should be in the bedroom between a married couple! The passion today's generation is pursuing is a fantasy. There is nothing on this planet that you can be passionate day in and day out. 

Teach your children to pursue God and His ways instead of passion. Train them to work hard at whatever they are called to do, even if this means bagging groceries or cleaning dirty dishes. If men just sit back waiting for God to open a door to their "passion," it will never happen. Instead, if they aren't being educated for a career path they have chosen, they should be bagging groceries or flipping burgers until more doors are opened for them. God doesn't work mightily within us if we are sitting around doing nothing. We have to get up out of our chair and begin working; then He swoops down and gives us the strength to accomplish His will in our lives, whether that is being a wife and mother for most women or a garbage collector, lawyer, doctor or whatever for most men. BUT God does call us to work and NOT be lazy.

Therefore, if you have a grown child waiting for his "passion," kick him out the door and make him work. There are WAY too many young men not working today and there are jobs. It may take a lot of time and work to find a job but with God ALL things are possible and He commands that we work heartily as to the Lord! If you have daughters, keep them busy around the home and other ministries if they aren't pursuing a higher education but don't let them fritter their lives away sitting around doing nothing. The best thing you can do for your daughters is to train them to never be afraid of hard work, serving others, keeping a home clean and tidy and cooking nutritious, yummy meals. Her future husband will thank you!

Comments (26)

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Oooo I love this! Yes. And often working hard at everything leads you to find your true passion anyway. It creates a discipline so you'll be better prepared for the day you do have the opportunity to do what you love. But no excuse to sit around waiting. I saw an interview of people on the street the ther day and there was a youn man drawing and sitting on the sidewalk. The interviewer asked why he doesn't have a job, and he said "well, I if I do work the most I will make is like $12/hr. So what's the point?" I'm not judging because I was lazy in my 20's but now I know better. I married a hard working man and he has taught me so much. He started out cutting grass as a teen at the engineerig company he now works for and is a top manager. and I plan on making sure my daughters stay busy and find working and doing their best rewarding. I pray every night that they turn out to be hard workers. Thanks for the post!!
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
I suppose certain passions are a good thing- feeding the hungry, nursing the sick, caring for orphans, etc... It seems to be more synonymous with a 'calling' in certain cases. Certainly a passion for something like designer handbags, fine dining, expensive wine, etc.. is not all that beneficial though. Like many concepts, passion seems to be used for good and evil.

I'll give an example from my own life. A former co-worker has a 27-year old unemployed son with good-to-average artistic abilities. He had a passion for tattoos and wanted to be a tattoo artist. Morality of tattoos aside, it wasn't realistic for him to get into tattooing. He got the worst advice from his peers about "following his passion" and "if you do what you love you will never work a day in your life". People should know, successful people in art, music, dance. sports etc.. often must work very hard. They may enjoy it, but it is still work. He remains unemployment as he refuses to get into anything but his passion.

To contrast that I know of a young man who went to a one year welding program and earned industry certifications. He is earning $30/hr. More than enough to support himself in our area. He may not have a welding " passion". But he now can support himself and explore passions on the side.
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
I was nauseous on the buzz word of the 1990s “absolutely” as no one could back up their ‘absolute’ commitment. The past 10-15 years the nauseating word has been “passion,” just like you said. The first thing it tells me about the person is that they are in tune to the ways of the world. And beyond the true comments you make it has come to justify almost anything someone does…as long as it is their passion or done passionately – “they died doing what they loved” “they’re passionate about all their tattoos,” passionate about defying law and order, etc. The world has elevated passion to a noble act just like George Washington has been replaced by John Lennon in our school books.
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
Lori
Your post is spot on!. I remember my Dad saying that his job provided for us all and paid the bills. He didn't understand the thinking that you had to 'follow your passion'. I think too in past times that alot more jobs were just a hard slog ie coal mining, and those types of heavy industry and you did those jobs because you HAD to do them. It provided you and your family a living but wasn't in any way a dream job!. Waiting for your dream job to follow your passion can sometimes be an excuse to sit around doing nothing!.
Blessings
Helen UK
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
Good points! I would add that my husband and I have both talked about how we would have been better off having been taught how to go about preparing for work (in our case, via college) that was profitable vs. something we were "passionate" about. He went for journalism and I went for psychology to work in the people-field (while my real "passion" was to be a wife/mom, it just wasn't God's timing). I am a stay-at-home/work-at-home/homeschooling mom now. He works in a warehouse. Money is tight.

While I worked briefly in my field before marriage, I made very little money and had lots of stress which I think came from the admin pushing us to bring in more money from government funds via our time spent with mentally ill clients...I worked in that field for about 1 1/2 yrs. then went into the rental car business, ha!

With all that said, this year I was offered a job teaching Psychology from a Christian Perspective at a local homeschool co-op. I will make a little money for my time, but not much.

I know that isn't exactly the "passion" your addressing, but maybe in a small way it's applicable since it does reflect back to the "pursue your passion in life" directives that a lot of young adults face.
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
Yes, yes, yes! I've told many young people, men and women alike this when they talk about finding a career they love: "It's called work and not play, for a reason. You work to feed your family and to have something to share with those in need. You don't work for personal fulfillment. Why not do things that "give back" and "fulfill you personally", without expecting to get a paycheck for it? Wouldn't that be more rewarding? But stop expecting for work to be anything other than what it is. Work. Stop expecting to play your life away and get paid for it."
2 replies · active 502 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker's avatar

HappyHomemaker · 502 weeks ago

I made good grades in school and thus was pushed to go to college because I needed a career. However, I knew college was just not my thing. Looking back now, it would have been a waste of time and money. I am a stay at home mom who wouldn't want it any other way. However, I am passionate about my job :)---- I love being able to take care of my husband and family without the added stress of an outside job. I know how blessed I am and thank God for it!
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
I am slightly confused. You have used the word passion many times in your blog titles and posts. Is the newer generation using in a different way these days?
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
I'd be interested to know what your take is on this article? It seems that following her passion made her become a better mom, but maybe its a different situation than what you're talking about? http://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/when-you-need-a-...
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago
That makes sense, thanks!
Struggling Student's avatar

Struggling Student · 502 weeks ago

Hi, this is a very timely post. I've been struggling with college these days. I feel so miserable about having to be in school, but my parents have pushed me to get a degree. My mom (who is a Christian) has given up on me and says I can quit, but my dad (unsaved, and doesn't know all the struggles) would not want me to quit. I am entering my 4th year and have approximately 1.5 years left (and I think it'd be silly to quit now). I know you're probably thinking that I'm almost done, but having done 4 years of schooling already, I ask myself whether I can survive the rest. I struggled with being passionate about what I study. This is what lead me to get a degree in something that is unlikely to result in a good job. I followed passion because that's what we are told to do these days. This post really opened my eyes to the falsehood that the idea of passion provides. But I have been struggling with contentment for awhile. In this past school year I felt I was getting closer and closer to depression. I seem to have no life outside of school, I don't have close friends to talk with, all my mom does is ask me questions and discourage me. I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. What is going to come out of all of this? What is the purpose of this? Only God knows. I have a desire to be a wife and mother, but that could be far in the future or not part of the future at all. I feel like by being discontent I am refusing to be grateful for His best for my life at this time, but still yet it doesn't change how I feel or act. Clearly I have a lot of issues.
2 replies · active 502 weeks ago
thank you! to me it just feels like a new way of saying "follow your heart" in a way. it's vague and unhelpful and has no Biblical basis at all (but then again I don't think it's usually Christians saying this- sometimes yes, but this "let my emotions guide me" idea is largely secular).
My passion was my children. I LOVED being a mom, I loved watching them grow from helpless infants to the wonderful adults they've now become. Once they were grown, I felt sort of lost. Now I have grandchildren...and amazingly enough, they're even MORE wonderful!
1 reply · active 502 weeks ago

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