Navigating the Path of Life

“I am confused, I don’t know what to do with my life” Who am I, why am I here, what is God’s will for my life? These are very tangible questions on the lips of many. Have you ever felt like this before?

Unless I miss my guess, I am sure we have all walked that path before. It is not an exciting path—but it is also the path that will take you into your destiny. It is a very frustrating moment, but when you finally get the answers, you look back and you are grateful to God you walked that path. Truly, the defining moment in every person’s life is when an answer for the identity question is found.

My journey of frustration started during my level 300 days in the University of Ghana. I was going to graduate with Linguistics and Philosophy. I was clueless and had no idea of what direction my life was heading. But thank God eventually, I found my path. 

Now, it’s been about eight years since I left University and I will want to share a few things with anyone who wants to find clues about where their life is heading. 

1. Ask God

• If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

 God created us. He created us for a specific purpose. If you want to know why you are here, just check with God. Pray and ask Him for direction, and you will get it. 

2. What are your natural gifts and talents? 

• “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16

Your natural gifts and talents are an indication of what you can do with your life. I don’t consider myself the best, but throughout my education—from JHS through to University, my essays stand out. Almost every teacher who taught me samples my essays and read them in-front of the whole class. It even happened in the University in a Classical Civilisation Literature class. (I have classmates on facebook, and I will dare not lie). Now, why on earth did I never look at this to develop a career out of writing? Why did it take me that long to know I have something I can “capitalise on?” Don’t look too far. Look at the things you do without “sweat”, they are big indicators of what you can do.

3. Look at your Family.

It is not for fun that certain things run through families. Things run through families, and you might as well look into your family and see what runs through it in terms of career. We are quick to see the negative things that run through our families but we miss the opportunities of seeing the positive things. My dad is a pastor. He was also once a union leader for Mankoadze Fisheries. My elder brother is a journalist (Stephen Anti of Multi TV). My Mum; O dear, that woman can narrate history and make you feel like you are there. My sister is a caterer, very creative. 

These things did not mean anything to me until I also started writing, preaching and organising programs. I belong to a creative family—we can write, we can talk and we can design. Don’t look too far—look at your family; the traits in there are big clues for your future aspiration. 

Trust me, you might be the first in your family to accomplish something that has not been done before, but if you go back and look at your family, you will realise what you have achieved is not new at all. It will only be a result of family traits. For example I have written a book—first in my family but it is a result of communication skills and creativity in the Family.

4. Your Passion and Enthusiasm

Your passion, enthusiasm and drive are an indication of what you can do with your life. What gets you excited, what gives you a sense of fulfillment, what things will you do even if you are not paid? Those are clues of what you can do. Let’s look at two persons from scriptures whose passion and enthusiasm gives us an indication of their assignment on earth was.

1     (i) Moses:

• And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.  And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known (Exodus 2:11-14).

Before God’s “formal” call came to Moses, he already possessed the passion and enthusiasm to defend and deliver Israel out of Egypt.

...he [saw] an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

   (ii) Apostle Paul

• I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women (Acts 22:3-4)

• …an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Philippians 3:5c-6).

Paul was a Pharisee and very passionate in defending the law. By his education and upbringing, Paul already had a passion to defend the name of God. To him, the Christians of his time, before his conversion were blasphemers, blaspheming the name of God. Paul was persecuting the church, killing the Christians with such passion and zeal—and in his mind, he was serving God.

Read what he said again:

• “…zealous toward God” 

The above statement summarizes Paul’s assignment on earth—zealous for God. The only problem was that he had a misplaced zeal and all God did was to redirect that zeal—and one of the greatest Apostles of all time was born. 

What do you have? Allow God to use it to bless humanity.