“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10
How do you handle hopelessness, frustration, or times when you sense that life is purposeless? I’m not sure how to categorize all of those feelings, but I think angst captures most of them.
Angst is a feeling of deep anxiety and dread that is unfocused and hard to identify yet is often accompanied by depression. It is a common human experience. Either we’ve been there ourselves or know another who struggles at these depths.
As with so many of these attitudes and distortions of our true selves, responses tend to go in one of two directions: overcompensation or withdrawal. But each of those can take many forms. If you have any experience with the emotions or attitudes related to angst, which tend to characterize you?
One of the greatest problems with hopelessness and depression is the sense that nothing will help; that even if something looks like it might help, it probably isn’t worth trying. This set of emotions has a paralyzing effect at a time when people most need to get up and do something. Whatever you do, don’t let it paralyze you.
If you’ll take a step toward God, He will take every other step toward you, no matter how many it takes. But you have to respond.
Knowing who we are created to be and what God has given us in salvation goes a long way toward relieving our feelings of angst. When we answer by faith God’s call into a new relationship (Ephesians 1:3-4), we are in the position to hear our new purpose (Ephesians 2:10). Our purpose is carefully chosen by God for each of us. It becomes His means of using you for reaching the world through the power of His Spirit.
No achievement, wealth, or worldly influence compares with experiencing the meaning and purpose of our calling. God brought us into a new relationship with Jesus and gave us a calling to fulfill our purpose. The pursuit of your holy ambition significantly diminishes the power of angst that would otherwise sabotage your calling and life.
Spend time thinking about what your holy ambition might be. You’re called to do the good works God has prepared for you—the things that fit your gifts, passions, and opportunities. Sometimes it takes a lot of prayer and searching to find your purpose, but it’s a journey God is more than happy to walk through with you.
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