Made for a Reason Jan. 14, 2025 ruthjimward@gmail.com or Google: Ruth Ward’s Blogs
“I shop with a list”, a friend said as we compared grocery shopping routines. “But last week my husband tagged along. He questioned why I missed going down every aisle, and I told him that I’m usually in a hurry and only go down the aisles that have an item on my list. Evidently, that didn’t make sense to him. He took off to check out the other aisles. He returned later with something to add to the basket. When I asked him what it was, he said, ‘I don’t know, but it looks pretty good. Everything is made for a reason, and I want to find out about this.’ “
‘Everything is made for a reason’ ran through my mind the rest of the day. I mulled it over and applied it to other situations. Then, for some reason, I thought about how many times I had asked Jim, for why a tool was shaped a certain way or reasons he was doing something, for instance, “Why are you putting that liquid in the gas tank?” and he’d give me a simple answer, “Helps with gas mileage”. Now that he’s gone, I find other people to answer my car questions. Several months ago, when I noticed an exclamation point icon on the dashboard of my car, I texted Grandson, Ettore, who is car savvy, to explain why it was there. He texted back, “A tire is low, I’ll be right over.” That not only comforted me but also troubled me that it was that serious. When he came, he checked every tire. They all needed more air. “Happens when the weather turns cold like the last couple of days. You don’t need to worry about it,” he assured me.
Consequently, the recent and past memories birthed Made for a Reason. The primary example that made blog-sense to me was biblical. Then God said, let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all creatures that move along the ground. 27... male and female, he created them. But I wasn’t writing a Bible study, so I decided to do the usual Google research for secular applications of made for a reason which support the subject.
Research: I was completely but pleasantly surprised, and I kid you not, the Google search produced only scripture references which I have copied below in italics. There were more than I could use. The verses say everything that I might use as encouragement, so I’ll just enjoy reading the research with you.
Proverbs 16:4 This proverb assures us that the Lord is not weak or dependent on man for success. He is fully in control, assured of His purposes, and makes no mistakes. Every human being should try to discover the Lord's purpose for his or her life.
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. This verse clearly teaches that you are not an accident—God created you on purpose for a purpose.
a. For we are His workmanship The Greek word translated “workmanship” is poiema, from which we get our English word “poem.” A poem is a literary work of art—and here Paul is using it to describe Christians, that each of us as Christians is a living work of art, a masterpiece in the making.
b. Created in Christ Jesus The only way we can begin becoming God’s masterpiece is through the new birth where we become a new creation in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. As Christians, we are a part of God’s new creation and He continues to work in us and on us to make us what He wants us to be—His own personal work of art. In other words, our conversion is not the end—it’s just the beginning of all that God wants to do in and through our lives.
Philippians 1:6 (NLT). And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. We are God’s masterpiece in the making—but a masterpiece takes time. Each child of God is a work in progress and God is sculpting our lives into the image of Jesus (Rom.8:29).
Titus 3:8 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
We are privileged/responsible for discovering the many reasons for which we were made. Unfortunately, some parents dictate to young adult children that their purpose in life involves spiritual or financial careers. I truly wince when clients share the guilt trip that was thrust upon them when their parent (s) rehearsed to them from little on up: “I promised God I’d give my child to Him to be a pastor, missionary, etc. Don’t disappoint me”.
To parents as well as to adult children, I assure them that God does the calling and directing. Parents’ job is to provide good physical, mental and spiritual preparation, and to allow each child to discover and develop his/her own gifts.
One of Jim’s and my favorite verses is: In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Prov. 16:9 (NIV).
Hopefully, this subject will factor positively in some way into 2025 in encouraging you to take stock, not necessarily of physical things that consume most of your day, but consider what you are doing to improve your life and the lives of others. Improving the life of another may be as simple as, “So nice to see you?” greetings.
Allowing your child/children to see a smile the first thing in the morning, rather than a hurried frown, sets their path on a positive note for the day.
Another easy action is to be aware as you come and go to assist someone with opening a door, managing a sluggish grocery basket, or retrieving something that’s been dropped. Those actions are two-way streets.
I’m eager to read responses regarding your understanding and experience of made for a reason.
Regarding 2025, my focus word is joy. As a church friend delivered me to my door, she insisted on getting out of the car and carrying the bag with my Bible and note books onto the porch until I’d unlocked the door, to make sure I was safe. I drew her attention to the Christmas Decoration that was still up--JOY-- and that I was leaving it up until David comes in February, so he can show me a more secure way to hang it. I told her that my word focus for the year was also, Joy. She said “Then, I would leave your JOY decoration up all year.” I just may do that! Just be aware of those in our world who do not have joy.
A repairman friend shared that he and his partner were planning to take a cake to a customer who was turning 100 this next week. They planned to sing happy birthday to her. “Her only child will not talk to her,” he said.
This has nothing to do with the blog subject, but when I heard that about the 100-year-old mother, another thought I had was that when kids are little, parents put up with them, and when parents are old, kids put up with them, in the same loving way.