“God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
– Eric Liddell, Olympic gold medalist and Christian missionary
“The glory of God is man fully alive.”
– Thomas Aquinas, theologian and philosopher
Something remarkable happens when you discover what makes you come alive—not in a fleeting, superficial way, but in that deep, eternal way that connects you to your Creator.
What is that thing for you?
What do you do that makes you lose track of time?
What lights a fire in your soul, making you feel both grounded in who you are and lifted beyond what you ever thought possible?
For Eric Liddell, it was running. For Thomas Aquinas, it was theological reflection. For others, it’s painting, writing, parenting, mentoring, baking, building, designing, or advocating for justice. These things may seem ordinary. But when done in relationship with God, they become radiant.
What if God created you in such a way that those very things that bring you to life are the ways He wants to be glorified?
You Were Created on Purpose, with Purpose
Psalm 139 tells us that God knit us together in our mother’s womb. Every detail was intentional—our personalities, talents, passions, even our quirks. You are not a random combination of traits. You are a crafted soul, designed with care by the God who knows your name.
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10:
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
His workmanship. The Greek word there is “poiēma”—the root of our word “poem.” You are a work of art. A living expression of divine design.
So when you lean into your God-given identity—your abilities, your story, your calling—you’re not being selfish. You’re being obedient.
When You Run, Do You Feel His Pleasure?
Eric Liddell, the Scottish Olympic runner who later gave up fame to serve as a missionary in China, famously said that when he ran, he felt God’s pleasure. That statement wasn’t pride—it was worship. He wasn’t glorifying himself. He was acknowledging that God created him in a certain way, and when he lived fully into that design, he was participating in something holy.
What about you?
Maybe when you teach, you feel God’s pleasure. Maybe when you stay up late helping a friend through a crisis, or when you sketch in your notebook, or when you strategize business solutions, or when you sing alone in your car, you sense something deeper at work. That’s not accidental.
Too many Christians bury those gifts. We’re told to be humble—and we should be. But humility doesn’t mean shrinking back from your design. It means stepping into it with gratitude and surrender, knowing that the gift isn’t about you—it’s about pointing others to Him.
The Glory of God Is Man Fully Alive
Thomas Aquinas was right. God isn’t glorified by robotic obedience or religious performance. He’s glorified when His children live fully alive in Him.
Jesus didn’t die just so we could go to heaven. He died and rose again so we could live—now and forever. As Jesus said in John 10:10:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Not just a life of rule-following or routine. A full life. A life of joy, purpose, courage, and communion with God.
If you’re just surviving—dragging yourself through the days, living out someone else’s expectations—you might be missing the “life to the full” that Jesus offers.
You were never meant to be a shell of who you are. God made you to be alive in Him, and to reflect His glory through the unique ways He’s wired you.
Holy Enjoyment Is Not Worldly Indulgence
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a license to chase pleasure for its own sake. The world says, “Follow your heart.” But Scripture tells us that our hearts can deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9). The goal isn’t to find pleasure apart from God—it’s to find pleasure in God, and in the ways He’s created you to glorify Him.
As Psalm 16:11 says:
“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
God’s joy isn’t shallow. It’s deeper than entertainment, richer than comfort, stronger than adrenaline. It’s the joy that comes when your heart beats in rhythm with His—when your “running” is your offering.
Don’t Bury What God Gave You
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), Jesus tells the story of three servants given resources to invest while their master is away. Two invest what they’ve been given and are rewarded. The third buries his gift in the ground out of fear—and he’s rebuked.
How many of us are doing the same?
Maybe you’ve told yourself:
- “I’m not good enough.”
- “It doesn’t matter.”
- “No one will care.”
- “That’s not spiritual enough.”
But what if the thing you’re dismissing is the very way God intends to use you?
Don’t bury your gifts. Don’t hide your voice. Don’t ignore your passions. If you can code, do it for Christ. If you can organize chaos into beauty, do it for Christ. If you can love people well, do it with boldness.
When you come alive, the world sees a clearer picture of the One who made you.
What Makes You Feel Most Alive?
Take a moment and ask yourself:
- When do I feel most myself?
- What activities make me feel purposeful?
- What burdens break my heart in a way that moves me to action?
- What talents have others affirmed in me?
- What dreams keep coming back, even after I’ve tried to forget them?
These questions aren’t about glorifying self. They’re about discerning your design.
And once you identify those things—offer them back to God.
Say: “Lord, You made me this way. How can I use this for Your kingdom?”
It’s Never Too Late to Come Alive
You may feel like it’s too late. Maybe you missed your chance. Life got busy. Failures piled up. You’ve lost your spark.
But God is in the business of resurrection.
Dry bones come to life. Old dreams get restored. Hearts beat again.
No matter your age or stage, if you’re still breathing, God’s not done. And He can still awaken those parts of you that have been buried under shame, fear, or fatigue.
Come Alive—for His Glory
You don’t have to be famous. You don’t have to go viral. You just have to be faithful.
Faithful to live as the person God created.
Faithful to use the gifts you’ve been given.
Faithful to love others with the joy that flows from knowing who you are in Christ.
And when you do—when you run, or build, or serve, or sing, or write, or dance, or lead—you may just find what Eric Liddell found:
That God is glorified not when you pretend to be someone else, but when you fully become who He made you to be.
So run.
Run your race.
Feel His pleasure.
And let the world see the glory of God in a life fully alive.
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