Thrive To Make A Difference

One of the things I’ve found myself grappling with, as a wife and mother of three young children, is that the work never ends. Like, never. The weekend promises rest and relaxation, yet even on those days “off” the housework continues to pile up (are you nodding?). I have constantly strived to be one step ahead and not feeling like I’m always playing catch-up. To feel a sense of achievement and purpose in the seemingly mundane moments of life. I confess that I have often felt overwhelmed.
As women, we play a critical role in the lives of others. Whether our husbands, children, friends, relatives or colleagues—we nurture and love the people God has given us, with everything that is in us. We give, give, give, and give some more, until we find ourselves depleted.
But what if I told you that it didn’t have to be this way? What if I told you that there is a better way to live?
I’m not suggesting that you ditch the dishes or give up on duty. What I am suggesting is that you take a step back and seek a fresh perspective on your life. Something, perhaps, that you haven’t had the luxury to do amidst the constant hustle, week in and week out. Today I want to give you the permission to pause and carve out some space for reflection.
I believe this is not common practice among Christian women today. We tend to forge ahead in life, putting all our energy into our daily routines. We become so reactive to the needs of others that we lose touch with why we are doing what we’re doing and how we ought to be going about it. We start to totally miss Jesus in it all and start “doing life” our own way. This then leads to frustration, fatigue, a lack of motivation and, potentially, even feelings of resentment (“Why can’t someone else scrub this bathtub?!”). We start turning to things or people to fulfill our lack of contentment. A shopping fix, gossip-fest, holiday or social media—we look to these things to escape the mundane reality of our own lives. We look around us and can’t seem to avoid the images of beautiful women in picture-perfect homes, living their best life yet—the kind that seems so out of reach to us.
Sister, it was never meant to be this way. The cross is meant to lead us to a life of joy and liberty. A life with purpose, contentment, and hope. I’d like to suggest that as a generation we have lost our way. But there is hope. The way back is not too far out of reach.
God’s Word is our road map, and it reveals the perfect path to finding satisfaction in our earthly lives. By taking a step back from where you are standing today and allowing Jesus to reveal to you His vision for your life, you can find the remedy to feelings of frustration and discontent which arise from time to time.
God has a purpose for your life, and the amazing thing about it is that only you can accomplish it. You have been gifted with a unique set of talents, experiences, and desires—together, they are what makes you so special. And your loving Creator, God Himself, is preparing a future for you that only you can bring to fruition.
I’m always amazed to see women around the world doing incredible things for God’s kingdom—things I could only dream of accomplishing. But in the same way, the Lord has given me specific abilities in areas that other women find daunting. The qualities that make me special were entrusted to me by God to accomplish His purpose for my life here on earth. We all have a special place in this world. We all have the opportunity to shine the light of Jesus and play our role in the Body of Christ. We just need to create the space in our life where we can seek the Lord for His direction.
Have you ever wondered why some women are more intentional in their lives than others? Why some women are achieving great things for God’s kingdom, while others seem to be continually struggling with the same spiritual battles as before? I am confident that women who are thriving in their walk with Jesus have one thing in common—they regularly take time out with Jesus and allow Him to define their life priorities.
Do you want to be that kind of woman? Well, precious sister, I have written this book to support you. My heart yearns to see you rise up above the daily grind and gain a fresh perspective of what God wants to do in your life. I want this for you, and I want this for countless other women who feel overwhelmed and in need of hope.
In the pages of this book, I want to walk you through a process I have developed that will help you gain perspective in your life. It is Christ-centered and rooted in the Word of God.
One simple step at a time, I will walk you through exercises that are designed to help you set the foundation and structure for your life plan—which I call your Thrive Plan.
Your Thrive Plan will help you live a more intentional and proactive life for Christ. It will help ensure that the daily decisions you make about what to do with your time are helping you work towards your life vision and God-given priorities. You will start with your Christ-led dream and will end with a practical plan that you can start living out immediately.
Your Thrive Plan will form the basis of how you invest your time, how you make decisions about what to focus on each month, and how you engage with your family, friends, church, workplace, and community.