This question may surprise you. Perhaps you thought your longings had nothing to do with keeping your life on track. I couldn’t disagree more. Your heart is crucial. Psalm 37:4 says, “Enjoy serving the LORD, and he will give you what you want.” When we submit to God’s plans, we can trust our desires. Our assignment is found at the intersection of God’s plan and our pleasures. What do you love to do? What brings you joy? What gives you a sense of satisfaction?
Some long to feed the poor. Others enjoy leading the church. Others relish singing or teaching or holding the hands of the sick or counseling the confused. Each of us has been made to serve God in a unique way.
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10 NIV).
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb…. Your workmanship is marvelous…. You were there while I was being formed…. You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe” (Ps. 139:13–16 TLB).
You are a custom design; you are tailor-made. God prescribed your birth. Regardless of the circumstances that surrounded your arrival, you are not an accident. God planned you before you were born.
The longings of your heart, then, are not incidental; they are critical messages. The desires of your heart are not to be ignored; they are to be consulted. As the wind turns the weather vane, so God uses your passions to turn your life. God is too gracious to ask you to do something you hate.
Be careful, however. Don’t consider your desires without considering your skills. Move quickly to the third question.
Lucado, M. (2001). Just like Jesus (electronic ed.) (95–96). Nashville: Word Publishing.