To answer the question so many of us ask, “What is my purpose?” Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton looks to the Bible to see what we can learn from people who God works through greatly. She lives to realize beauty-filled visions that lift us to flourishing, and through ministry leadership, academic research, and writing, Naomi has helped more than a million people get into God’s story and discover their own. It is a joy to welcome Naomi to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton

I’ll let you in on a fear of mine. And it isn’t public speaking, but you might call it public sinking. 

When I was CEO of a ministry that serves around one hundred thousand moms, I stood on a stage and voiced my greatest fear.

“I had to step forward in my weakness, not in my strength. I had to step out in faith from who I was, not who I wished I were.“

Leading up to the event, I’d participated in a Bible-based “Courage Challenge” to embolden women to live a God-given purpose.  

Trying to be a leader who models the way, I stood in front of thirty-two thousand strangers and wrote on a sheet of cardboard my greatest fear: humiliation. Not long after unzipping my soul like this, I did something that could have seemed like public sinking, or humiliation, indeed—I left what felt to me like a once-in-a-lifetime job to answer God’s call to step into something new.

I had to step forward in my weakness, not in my strength. I had to step out in faith from who I was, not who I wished I were. Even recalling this now makes my throat and chest feel jumpy. 

But I took courage from a pattern I see in the Bible.

A pattern I call Believe-Belong-Become. A pattern I dared believe could guide a limited leader like me, not just superheroes of the faith.  A few months earlier, I’d completed a seminary assignment where I looked from Genesis to Revelation to see who God uses greatly. I noticed this Believe-Belong-Become pattern and its promise: Every ordinary one of us can live our part in God’s extraordinary purpose. 

“I looked from Genesis to Revelation to see who God uses greatly. I noticed this Believe-Belong-Become pattern and its promise: Every ordinary one of us can live our part in God’s extraordinary purpose. “

I saw it in Hagar, who believed God cared about her even when others didn’t seem to. So she chose to return, to belong again to Abraham’s household. Eventually she became a mother of nations herself. 

I saw it in Esther, who believed God would save his people, who belonged as she asked the Jews to pray and fast with her, and who became a hero. She risked her life to save the lives of many. 

And I saw it again in Mary, who believed the terrifying announcement she’d bear the Savior, who belonged as she sought out kindred-soul Elizabeth, and who became the mother of our Lord!

I knew I had given all I could, and how I’d been preparing the organization for its next leader. But I had to accept a holy invitation to believe God’s promise. 

God promises that he causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose, and that we have overwhelming victory through Christ who loved us (Romans 8:28-39). 

I knew I couldn’t take the next step of faith by myself. I needed help. I reached out to people who make me bold—my husband, a sage coworker, one of my brothers. As we prayed and listened for God’s leading, I sensed the answer: “Let go, give up this role, and say goodbye to its prestige, its paycheck, and its platform.” I’d needed to belong.

“Each Believe-Belong-Become cycle I walk through, God draws me closer still, and I can follow him more boldly. I am still ordinary. But with God, it’s actually ordinary to live with extraordinary purpose.“

The day I resigned happened to be my twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I whispered to myself, “God has been faithful in my marriage. He is going to be faithful as I leave this job.” As I told my boss and offered her my resignation letter, God overcame my worst fear—humiliation—by lavishing my deepest desire—His presence.

Later, God led me to be a CEO again, and I was a braver version of myself the second time because I’d followed Him the first time. Each Believe-Belong-Become cycle I walk through, God draws me closer still, and I can follow him more boldly. I am still ordinary. But with God, it’s actually ordinary to live with extraordinary purpose.

What about you? What promise of God’s do you need to believe today? Who makes you feel like you belong and strengthens you to act on God’s promises? What baby step (or big step) of faith is God inviting you to take to become more of who he has made you to be?

This Believe-Belong-Become pattern has emboldened me so much that I wanted everyone to know about it! You’ll find it in the center section of the Every Woman’s Bible.

Through 12 interactive experiences, you’ll discover how Bible-people discovered their God-given purposes and how you can, too.

No matter how be-frenzied or befuddled this moment feels, God is here.

God longs to put His arm around you and say, “Here, daughter. Here’s the role I made you for in my rescue story. Hold my hand.”

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{Our humble thanks to Tyndale Bibles for their partnership in today’s devotional.}