Do you remember the Little house on the prairie? I used to love watching it, starting from the song introducing the story to the very end, listening to the song once more and looking forward to tomorrow to watch another episode.
What is it that I loved so much about it? Well, it was a story of stability in which everyone knew their role and their function in the family and in the community. There was tolerance towards one another and on Sundays they all met in church, the same place where school was held.
Today we are told that working longer than 3 years in one position is not too good for your career, you need to slowly move up the ladder and show purpose. Employers search for talent, we are requested to prove ourselves, time and time again with every job change.
Relationships with our spouses are sometimes also a place where we have to prove ourselves, keeping up the balance between work and life and trying to juggle everything as well as we possibly can.
Have you every stopped to think what your role in this ever changing world is? What makes up your identity? It used to be easier to answer this question, people used to work for a company for 25-30 years, staying loyal and gaining experience in the field. One would be respected for their length of service and expertise that they have accumulated, it used to be easy to define yourself in the context.
At home families were a more stable place to be in, everyone’s role predefined – the breadwinner went to work, the housewife made the nest and organised social activities and the children knew their place.
Nowadays children get a key, are asked to let themselves in the home and warm up the leftovers while both parents struggle to give a 100 percent in both work and home never managing the maths.
Where in all this do we find stability, rest and peace? How do we answer the question, who am I in today’s world?
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. That’s where our true stability lies.
Psalm 139 helps us understand that our identity is given to us by God who created us and knows us more than we know ourselves.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and lying down;
You are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
You, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
And you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
Too lofty for me to attain.
This is what helps me have consistency, steadiness and ultimately peace. It reminds me to set my priorities to focus on God, who knows me, knows my ways and knows what is best for me. Setting His will in my heart and keeping in touch with Him so that I may know His love for me afresh.
Coaching with Impact 