Episode 10: Purpose in the Midst of Healing: You Still Have a Calling”

Episode 10 – “Purpose in the Midst of Healing: You Still Have a Calling”

Description: Called Even While Healing
“Did my trauma ruin my purpose?” In this episode, you’ll confront the lie that your life is on hold or over because of what you’ve lived through. Rev. Stormyee unpacks what Scripture says about being God’s workmanship and how your story, wounds, and compassion can shape (but not define) your calling. You’ll explore the idea of “micro‑purpose” and “macro‑purpose” and leave with one small, realistic way to live as someone called—even in the middle of healing.

Primary Scriptures for this episode (feel free to pause and look them up):

• Jeremiah 29:11 – Plans to prosper you, not to harm you.
• Ephesians 2:10 – God’s workmanship, created for good works.
• Romans 8:28–29 – God working all things for good, conforming us to Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – Comforted so we can comfort others.
• Esther 4:14 – “For such a time as this.”

In our next episode, we’ll explore shame and self‑compassion more directly—how to move from harsh self‑judgment to the kind of mercy Jesus actually shows His followers.

Until then, may you sense, even quietly, that your life is not over—and that God’s purposes for you are still very much alive.

With fierce love and unshakeable faith,
I’m Rev. Stormyee, and this is Wholeness.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Welcome to Holeness with Reverend Stormy Edmondson, a space for healing, faith, and kingdom purpose. I'm Reverend Stormy Edmondson, ordained minister, Christian life coach, and your companion on the journey from trauma to triumph. Here we talk about the real themes. Healing from pain, renewing the mind, building holy boundaries, growing in faith, and walking boldly in the calling God has placed on your life. Whether you're in a season of survival, restoration, or thriving, this is your reminder that God sees you, God is with you, and your story is not over. So take a deep breath, settle your heart, and listen for what the Lord wants to speak to you today. You are welcome here. You are seen, and you are being restored here. Jeremiah chapter twenty nine, verse eleven plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Ephesians chapter two verse ten. God's workmanship created for good works. Romans chapter eight verses twenty eight through twenty nine. God working all things for good, conforming us to Christ. Second Corinthians chapter one verses three through four. Comforted so that we may comfort others. In Esther chapter four, verse fourteen, for such a time as this. Hi friends, and welcome back to wholeness with Reverend Stormy. In episode eight and nine, we talked about the journey from victim to survivor to thriver, and about shifting your identity from being trauma-defined to Christ-defined. Today we're going to talk about purpose, not as pressure, but as hope. This episode is called Purpose in the Midst of Healing. You still have a calling. We're going to explore why trauma tries to convince you your life is over or on hold. What scripture says about your calling, even while you're still healing, in a gentle, realistic way, to begin stepping into purpose without burning out. If you've ever thought to yourself, I've lost too much time, or I'm too broken to be used by God, then this is for you. Let's pray. Jesus, you know the dreams that have been buried, the callings that feel lost, and the shame that says, We're disqualified. Would you speak to us about purpose today in a way that brings hope rather than pressure? Show us that you have not thrown away our lives. Take a breath in and out. Your calling did not die with your trauma. Segment one, the lie. My life is ruined. Trauma often whispers or screams. You missed your chance. Everyone else got to build a life while you were just trying to survive. You're too messed up to be used by God. You're always going to be the one who struggles too much to do anything meaningful. Maybe you've looked at your story and thought, if I hadn't gone through that, I'd be further along in my education, my career, or ministry, or my relationships. If my childhood had been different, I'd be more confident by now. If I hadn't been abused, I'd be a better spouse or parent or friend. Those thoughts are understandable, but they were real losses. We're not sugarcoating that. But here's the truth you need to hear today. Your trauma has affected your journey, yes, it is not cancelled God's ability to work in and through you. In Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11. It is often quoted out of context, but its truth still holds. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. These words were spoken to people in exile, people whose lives had been disrupted, whose nation had been shattered. God didn't say to them, I had plans, but you messed them up. He said, I know the plans I have for you. Even in exile. Ephesians chapter two, verse ten says, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Workmanship can also be translated as masterpiece or handiwork. That means you are not a random collection of broken pieces. You are a crafted person with design and intention. These are good works, expressions of love, service, creativity, justice, kindness prepared in advance with you in mind. The fact that you're still healing does not erase that verse. In fact, sometimes the very compassion you now carry, the insights you've gained, the tenderness you have toward others' pain, those things make you especially equipped to walk out certain parts of your calling. Second Corinthians chapter one verses three through four says God comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Your pain is not your identity, but it can shape your empathy, your voice, and your lane of impact. Listen now, as if Jesus is speaking directly to the part of you that feels like your chance at purpose is over. I see the opportunities that passed you while you were just trying to survive. I see the ways trauma has slowed you down, exhausted you, and made it hard to imagine anything beyond healing. I'm not disappointed in you. I am proud of every day you've chosen to keep going. Your calling is not canceled because your journey's been hard. I write stories with detours. I bring beauty out of ashes, not out of perfection. I'm not waiting for you to be fully healed before I call you useful. I can meet you in process. I will not rush you. But I also won't let you believe the lie that you are only your trauma. You are mine, and I have good works prepared with your name on them. Even if they look different than you once imagined. Take a breath and let those words sit. Micro purpose versus macro purpose. Sometimes we think of purpose only in big terms, like a certain career or ministry, a public calling, a long-term life mission. But purpose can also be micro, day-to-day expressions of who you are in Christ. Macro purpose might be I'm called to write. I'm called to trauma-informed ministry. I'm called to raise children. I'm called to counseling, teaching, art, or advocacy. A micro purpose might look like choosing kindness toward yourself when shame flares, listening well to a friend who's struggling, exercising a boundary that protects your healing, or creating something small that reflects God's heart, like a text of encouragement, a song, a painting, or a post. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10 doesn't say you are God's workmanship created only for big, impressive things. It simply says good works, acts of love and obedience, large and small. In seasons where your capacity is limited, your purpose might look like resting as an act of faith, letting God rewrite your inner narrative, being present to your children, your spouse, or your own heart. Showing up to therapy and doing the work. Those are not less spiritual than leading a Bible study. They're part of your calling in this season. Segment five. Purpose and pace. No spiritual hustle. One of the dangers for survivors is going from overfunctioning and dysfunction, being the strong one, the fixer, the caretaker, straight into overfunctioning in church or ministry. People pleasing in spiritual clothes. You might think, if I'm really grateful, I should do more. God has done so much. I owe him ministry. If I'm not serving constantly, I'm wasting my calling. But God's not a taskmaster. He's a father who cares about your being as much as you're doing. Your healing season may involve saying no to some good opportunities. So you can say yes to deep restoration. That is not you wasting your calling. That is you preparing to walk out in a sustainable way. Esther chapter four verse fourteen is often quoted, Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this. What we sometimes forget is Esther also had a process. She went through preparation, counsel, and timing before stepping into her moment. Your such a time as this may still be forming. You don't have to rush. Let's do a gentle reflection to notice purpose already at work. Think back over your life, even the hard parts, and ask yourself what kinds of people or situations have I always felt drawn to care about? What injustices or needs stir something deep in me? What do people often thank me for? Is it listening, creativity, wisdom, kindness, presence? You might notice patterns like you're drawn to support other survivors. You have a heart for children, teens, or those who are overlooked. You're passionate about mental health, justice, worship, art, teaching, or hospitality. Now layer trauma story on top of that, not as a source of your purpose, but as something that has sharpened your compassion and ask how's what I've lived through given me unique empathy or insight? Where am I my story helped me understand others in a way I couldn't have before? This doesn't mean God caused your trauma for the sake of your calling. It means he refuses to waste what the enemy meant for harm. Finally, ask Jesus. Given where I am in my healing, what does purpose look like right now? What's one small way I can live as your workmanship this week? Listen for a word, a picture, or a simple idea. Something that feels doable, not crushing. Segment seven. Reflection questions and homework. Here's some questions you can sit with this week. What lies have I believed about my purpose because of trauma? It's too late. I'm disqualified. I have nothing to offer. Or do I already see small expressions of purpose in my daily life? Ways I love, create, serve, or bring God's heart into the world? If I imagine Jesus saying, You still have a calling, what emotions rise up? Is it hope, fear, pressure, or disbelief? For homework, choose one of the following. Option one, lies versus truth are purpose list. Write down the lies you've believed about your purpose on one side, and on the other side, write scriptures or truths that counter them. For example, I'm too broken versus I am God's workmanship. Ephesians chapter two verse ten. And pray, Jesus, help me agree with your version of my story. Option two One small act of purpose. Ask God for one simple thing you can do this week that aligns with your heart and his encouraging someone, making something, learning about an area you care about. Do that one thing, and afterwards notice how you feel. Option three, a future letter. Imagine yourself five years further into healing and growth. Write a brief letter from that future to your current self describing how they see your story now, what they discovered about purpose along the way, and what encouragement they want to give you. Closing a preview. You are already God's workmanship. You are already loved, called, and gifted. You are already walking in pieces of purpose, even on the days that feel small. Let's pray. Jesus, I thank you that you do not throw away wounded people. You draw near, heal, and then walk with us into purpose at a pace that honors our humanity. For every listener who feels disqualified or left behind, I ask, lift the weight of comparison and spiritual hustle. Show them the good works that fit their current season. Let them feel that they are not an afterthought in your kingdom, but deeply included. Use their story, Lord, not as their identity, but as a backdrop that makes your redemption shine and help them see every one small way they can live out their calling this week. In Jesus' name. Amen. In our next episode, we'll explore shame and self-compassion more directly. How to move from harsh self-judgment to the kind of mercy Jesus actually shows his followers. Until then, may you sense even quietly that your life is not over, and that God's purpose for you are still very much alive. With fierce love and unshakable faith, I'm Reverend Stormy, and this is wholeness.