I spent much of my twenties feeling like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. I longed to use the gifts God had given me in a career I loved, but I felt stuck.

I lived in a city where software engineers were celebrated, while creative people were often overlooked. And that was me—a creative person who wondered where I belonged.

Because there weren’t many opportunities that allowed me to use my imagination and communication skills, I worked as a receptionist at a software company, sold computers at a retail store, and even spent a couple of years scooping ice cream at the local Baskin-Robbins.

During those discouraging seasons, I believed a lie: that when God was handing out gifts in heaven, He had somehow run out of the “important” ones before He got to me. I imagined Him saying, “I’m sorry. The impressive gifts are already gone. You’ll have to be one of those creative types.”

I felt cheated out of a meaningful future.

After all, what good was it if I could sing, paint, or write? No engineering firm was going to call me for an interview. I feared I would spend the rest of my life feeling frustrated in jobs I was never created to do.

But deep inside, something kept me dreaming. I couldn’t shake the belief that God had more for me—that one day I would serve Him through work that aligned with the way He had uniquely created me.

In his book Soul Cravings, Erwin Raphael McManus writes:

“All of us long to be something more than we are. We are driven to achieve, moved to accomplish, fueled by ambition. It burns hotter in some than others, but it is within all of us.”

Like McManus describes, I was longing to become more. I wanted to serve God in my sweet spot. I wanted to know that my life and my gifts mattered.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you feel frustrated with your career and have a deep sense that God has something more ahead for you. Maybe you’re just starting out, or maybe you’re entering a new season of life and sensing that a transition is coming.

No matter where you are, here are three lessons God taught me while I waited for Him to move me from scooping ice cream to using my gifts of communication.

1. God is shaping and preparing you.

While you do your part—taking steps forward, pursuing opportunities, and seeking wisdom—remember that God often works in hidden seasons before He brings us into visible purpose.

This happened with David, who spent years tending sheep before becoming king. It happened with Moses, who spent decades in the wilderness before leading God’s people.

We are often in a hurry. God is not.

He cares more about who we are becoming than what we are accomplishing. When you feel like a square peg in a round hole, trust that God is shaping your character, deepening your faith, and preparing you for what He has ahead.

2. God wants the glory.

Sometimes God allows us to wait because He is doing something deeper than simply giving us what we want.

There are seasons when He gently loosens our grip on the things we value most. Even the career or opportunity we desire may not come on our timeline because God is working in ways we cannot yet see.

And when the door finally opens, we recognize that it was never just about our ability—it was about His faithfulness.

3. God will lead you where He wants you to go.

There were times when my path seemed completely disconnected from my purpose. I couldn’t understand how answering phones, selling computers, or scooping ice cream could possibly lead anywhere meaningful.

But looking back, I can see how God used every experience to prepare me for where I am today.

God wastes nothing.

He is sovereign over every season, every job, every disappointment, and every detour. Just as He worked through the life of Joseph, God can use every part of your story to accomplish His purposes.

Someone once told me, “It’s God’s responsibility to get you to your destiny.”

That perspective changed the way I viewed my journey.

As Scripture reminds us:

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” — Philippians 2:13

So if you feel stuck today, don’t lose heart.

Keep praying. Keep growing. Keep taking faithful steps. Continue pursuing the gifts God has placed inside you—but make your relationship with Christ your greatest priority.

Your greatest calling is not simply what you do.

It is knowing the One who created you.

He sees you. He knows your gifts. And He is faithful to guide you into His purposes.

Additional Resources

You have been called to make a difference in your lifetime!   The Blueprint for Life study contains a life planning workbook; Bible study and ten messages featuring Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Tony Evans, John Maxwell and others. It’s now available in digital download.  Click here to check it out!