When you’re sick, you usually have symptoms telling you that something is wrong. So, you can go to the doctor or at least go to the drugstore for some medicine.
But there are times when you may be sick, and you don’t even know it – your symptoms are silent and invisible. The same thing can happen when a woman isn’t fully living out her God-given assignment. She may not even be aware of it.
That’s why I’m sharing 5 Symptoms of a Woman Who Doesn’t Know Her Assignment.
So, what does it look like when a woman isn’t fully living out her God-given assignment? There are clues and for this post. I’m calling them symptoms.
Let’s talk about five of them.
Symptom #1 – Feeling unfulfilled in your current career.
If you’re in a career that doesn’t resonate with your passions and strengths, you might be operating outside of your assignment.
Let me ask you some questions:
- Does your stomach start tightening up on Sunday evening because you have to go to work on Monday?
- When you actually get to work, do you daydream about being somewhere else?
- Are you just trying to get to Friday, so you can have the weekend off from your job?
If you resonate with any of this, there’s a good chance that your career is no longer fulfilling you.
Remember, your work can be a powerful tool for glorifying God and serving others. But how much glorifying is happening when you feel like your career is sucking the life out of you? When you’re at a career crossroads, that’s a symptom that you’re not living your assignment.
You may not have to leave your career – maybe the Lord is telling you that you just need to change jobs. But when what you’re doing feels like it’s sucking the life out of you, it’s time to make a change.
It’s time to look for the kind of work that’s going to allow you to use your gifts, talents, and unique skills that make a lasting impact in the world, your community – whatever your sphere of influence is.
Remember, Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Ultimately, you’re working for the Lord. That means that you have to focus on doing the work He’s called you to do in the place (assignment) that He’s called you to do it. If that’s not where you are right now, ask Him to help you do something about it.
Symptom #2 – Not using your unique talents and abilities.
God has gifted each of us with unique talents and abilities.
If you’re not using these gifts, you’re missing out on a chance to serve in God’s assignment in this season. Romans 12:6 says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” If you’re not using your gifts, you’re probably not living your assignment.
I recently asked a friend of mine how her daughter was doing. She’s in her second year of college and she’s struggling a little bit. So, as we talked about this, she said that she thinks the problem is that her daughter is studying computer science, which she’s good at. But her real love is dance – something she’s been doing since she could stand up. She’s been in recitals and performances and received great reviews – God has gifted her in dancing. But she told her mom that she felt like computer science was a more realistic major. So, my friend allowed her to see for herself that maybe that’s not the way to go. She’s now encouraging her to explore dance, even if she wants to take it as a minor.
Are you using your gifts and talents in your daily life? Or are you stuck on the sensible thing that’s also not your present assignment?
When you use your gifts and talents to bring light and joy to others, you glorify God.
Someone may even be thinking “I don’t know what my gifts are” or “I don’t have any gifts.” First, if you don’t know what your gifts are, I want you to do this. Take a spiritual gifts test. A free one that you can do online is giftstest.com.
Then the second thing I want you to do is to take a sheet of paper, your favorite notebook, or your phone app, and make a list of all the things you can do. Don’t edit yourself – nothing is too small.
Once you’ve completed your list, go back through it and make note of the ones that you feel you’re really good at. Also, which ones do people tell you that you are really good at?
And finally, ask the Lord how He wants you to use them to fulfill your present assignment.
Symptom #3 – Being in toxic or unfulfilling relationships.
Relationships that don’t honor your worth as a child of God can divert you from your assignment.
A toxic and unfulfilling relationship doesn’t only mean romantic ones. Women can find themselves caught up in that kind of relationship with a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or even someone at church.
If you’re in a relationship that leaves you feeling devalued and less than the extraordinary woman God designed you to be, there’s something wrong with that relationship. It will also keep you stuck trying to figure out what you need to do to fix it. And chances are you can’t fix it because it’s not you, it’s them.
When you’re in a wrong relationship, living your assignment is probably the last thing on your mind. Turmoil and toxicity will take over your life.
A drama-filled life is the opposite of an assignment-focused life.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
I have a friend who grew up seeing her grandfather beat her grandmother and a father who beat her mother. She promised herself as a little girl that she would never allow that to happen to her. Well, guess what? Not only did it happen to her, but it happened three times with three different husbands. She was finally able to break that cycle, but she shared with me that while she was stuck in those marriages, all she could think about was surviving.
Living her purpose, calling, and assignment was the last thing on her mind. So, for those years, her assignment was on the back burner.
I know that my friend’s example is kind of extreme.
You may not be physically attacked in your relationship, but is that relationship pulling you away from the thing God wants you to be doing right now? If yes, that’s a symptom of a woman not living in her assignment.
Spend some time in prayer and ask the Lord to give you direction – direction for your relationship and how you can best live your assignment right now.
Symptom #4 – Feeling spiritually disconnected.
Does your connection with God feel off?
Does your life feel like it’s out of order?
These are examples of being spiritually disconnected from God.
And when you’re in a place like that, it’s impossible to live your assignment. Because God is the One who gives you your assignment.
He orders your steps and directs your path. He tells you what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. But if you’re disconnected from Him, you won’t hear Him.
I remember 18 years ago when I was going through a divorce, I was mad at my then-husband, every other man on the planet (except my brothers), and God.
Being mad at God, the way I was doing it, leads to spiritual disconnection. God can handle us being mad with Him. The problem is when we allow our “mad” to draw us away from Him. And that’s what I was doing.
In John 15:5-8, Jesus says …
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Staying connected to God is the most important thing you can do in your life. Because anything you’re doing without that connection, you’re doing in your own power.
That’s not what God is calling you to do.
He is our source for everything.
And you can only live your purpose, calling, and assignment by being connected to Him every second of every day.
Our prayer should be Psalm 63:1, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
Nourish your relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. Seek spiritual guidance or a spiritual mentor to reignite your passion for living out your assignment.
There is so much joy in having a close connection with the Lord. If your relationship with Him feels broken, He’s waiting with open arms to welcome you back at any time.
Not only will you be blessed with knowing Him in a new and powerful way, but you will also want to be in His will in every area of your life – including living your assignment.
Symptom #5 – Suppressing a dream.
God is the ultimate dreamgiver.
Back in 2003, author and pastor Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book called, The Dream Giver: Living Your God-Given Destiny. He also wrote the very popular book, The Prayer of Jabez.
The book’s publisher says: The Dream Giver shows how to identify and overcome the obstacles that keep people from living the life they were created for. He begins with a modern-day parable about a character named Ordinary, who dares to leave his home in the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. With the help of the Dream Giver, Ordinary begins the hardest and most rewarding journey of his life. The goal of the story is to reveal that there’s no limit to what God can accomplish when we choose to pursue the dreams He gives us for His honor.
God often places desires in our hearts that are connected to our assignment.
If you’ve been suppressing a dream, it’s time to evaluate why. Because that dream that you have, very well may have come from God. And when you put that dream on the back burner, you’re out of God’s will. So, instead, embrace your dream and explore how it aligns with what God is calling you to do right now.
When you pursue your dream, that pursuit can lead to true fulfillment and impactful service.
Some people give up on their dream because it didn’t happen fast enough. But we have to remember that since God gave us the dream, He has the right to decide when it’s going to come to pass.
It will happen on His timetable.
So, if you know that God has confirmed that the dream you have is going to come true, don’t give up on that dream. Continue to pray, seek His will, and accept that His timing is not your timing.
I say this all the time – if God said it, He meant it!
So, those five symptoms are:
- Feeling unfulfilled in your current career.
- Not using your unique talents and abilities.
- Being in toxic or unfulfilling relationships.
- Feeling spiritually disconnected.
- Suppressing a dream.
If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, I have some good news for you. You’re on a journey that’s a continuous process. At any time, you can shift into a season of growth and alignment.
Each symptom may be a challenge, but they’re also opportunities to draw closer to God and refine your understanding of your assignment.
When you courageously step into your God-given assignment, you’ll find renewed joy, clarity, and the strength to live out your purpose and calling with passion and grace.
