“Busy”…that four-letter word we often use when asked how we’re doing!

And often it is preceded by the word “so” as in “I’m so busy!”

While “busy” may truly describe your life, it may not mean you’re busy on your God-given purpose – your personalized mission for your time on earth.

Philosopher Thoreau put it well, “It’s not enough to be busy . . . the question is ‘What are we busy about?'”

And nobody cares about the answer to that question more than our indwelling Helper, the Holy Spirit.

In addition to helping us become more and more like Jesus in your thoughts, words, and deeds, the Helper also wants to help us stay on mission for a lifetime . . . HIS mission!

What strategy does the Holy Spirit Helper use to keep us on Jesus’ mission for a lifetime?

He gives us specific gifts to fulfill His purpose for us!

Each of us has a unique spiritual gift or gift-mix designed to be unwrapped and used for the benefit of others.

Check out this list of spiritual gifts, including an explanation about each one and the scripture references.

Are you unsure of your spiritual gifts? Here is a quick online test you can take to determine your spiritual gifts.

Unlike most gifts we receive, these are meant to be shared and used in tandem with other Christ-followers and their Helper-given gifts.

In I Corinthians, God uses the analogy of the members of His church being like a human body – each one with its necessary gifting to help the body minister. The eye is needed just as much as the big toe is needed. The body works together to navigate this life.

Another (uninspired) analogy would be that Christ’s church is like an orchestra with different musical instruments, sounds, and different parts of the musical manuscript.

Our Helper conducts us all and helps us stay in tune so that His message gets through to a watching and needy world.

Every player in His orchestra is needed . . . and every “rehearsal” and “concert” counts. Every. single. one.

That is what we should be “busy” with – exercising our spiritual gifts to provide our contribution to the melody that God is orchestrating.

May your gifts from your Helper find you staying on mission…not just busy, but busy with your purpose ~ busy with the Father’s business and His special assignment for you.

First published: June 2016

Updated: March 2021

Note: Many thanks to Pastor Mike Frans who inspired this post from his email asking if we are busy with our purpose or just busy.