Have you ever had God share something with you that you did not understand?
That’s how it was with my book’s title The Black Girl’s Guide to Living on Purpose. He shared it with me in March 2015 and I asked Him why He wanted me to be so specific. In typical God fashion, He took His time answering and did not reveal ultimately reveal the title’s significance, until October 27 as I watched a video of a 16-year old South Carolina student, who we later would come to know as Shakara be thrown from her desk for causing a classroom “disruption.” As I share in my book, I understood in that moment that while The Black Girl’s Guide to Living on Purpose is relevant and applicable to girls of all ethnicities, God was calling me out to encourage young girls to believe what I feel God was telling me to tell them and that’s “You matter to Me.” He was telling me to tell them that they should not grow discouraged by what they see on TV and must fight against the urge to believe all the hateful language that’s been redirected towards minorities over the course of the last few years. They must be committed to living on purpose because they may be in a position to question their existence if they don’t.
Through this revelation, God made the scripture found in James 1:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) real to me. It says “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” He didn’t make the title this big secret, instead He revealed the meaning behind it after I asked Him.
There may be something in your life that God has called you to do and you can’t understand it. I’m here to encourage you to trust His heart even when you can’t trace His hand and what’s more, be willing to ask Him for understanding because He may grant it.
Listen: Oceans by Hillsong United