As most of you know, I’m a dance coach, and today I just want to take a moment to talk to you all about walking in purpose.
God is so thoughtful. He is always watching, always listening, and He plants seeds in us even as children. Then, in His perfect timing, He begins to water those seeds so they can grow.
Growing up, I always loved to sing and dance. My family used to host talent shows during the holidays, and honestly, those were the highlights of my childhood. The moment I watched movies like Honey, You Got Served, Rize, Step Up 2, and shows like America’s Best Dance Crew, it was over! You couldn’t tell me anything!
Fast forward to just a few months ago, my older brother told me he had just watched Honey and it reminded him of me. He said, “Everything about that movie is so Sarah.” That hit me, especially because back in November, God had already given me that exact revelation, but I hadn’t thought too deeply about it until my brother brought it up again. So I rewatched the movie.
In the movie, Honey starts out as a bartender. She auditions for studios, gets involved with youth, and eventually is offered a deal by a big-time producer, but only if she compromises her morals. She chooses not to and ends up going full-time with the kids.
That storyline hit so close to home for me. From the bartender to the auditions. A while back, I was faced with a similar decision. It wasn’t about compromising morals, but there was a major dance studio opportunity that simply wasn’t the direction God was leading me. Around last May, I found myself at a crossroads, chase the “dancer life” and wrestle with the world that comes with it or go where God was placing me and coach the team.
When I looked at both paths, it was clear that God’s presence was in this one—with the girls. I knew God would be with me either way, but He led me here for a purpose.
Now, that doesn’t mean God can’t bring things back around in the future, at the right time. I believe He can. In fact, last November, literally a night before I went on my best friend's birthday cruise—God woke me up in the middle of the night. (like he always does lol). We had a conversation about purpose. That’s when the Honey reference first came up again. And by the end of that moment with Him, I understood: God places us in specific paths for our good. You may not understand at that moment but later on you will.
Being a first-year coach was hard, Ke’Mari can tell you! But I kept going. And the more I pushed through, the more I saw God in it.
One big thing I’ve learned is: if God gives you something, you need Him to sustain it. I can’t do anything without Him, but especially not when it comes to dance.
I’m still learning, but I realized it’s a day-by-day journey. Also, what God has showed me is that He has grew my dancing and choreography skills while coaching them.
During the first half of my first year, I was stressed—lol. I was not being a stern coach, and I didn’t know what to do honestly. It’s like I knew how to dance, but I didn’t really know how to teach it.
I kept trying to fit into that dance world when God was just like:
“No. YOU be who YOU are, and YOU bring YOUR talents. YOU don’t switch up. YOU do what I called YOU to do.”
Which is what we did… and we be winning—lol.
So back to the beginning—God planted that seed in me as a child. And now I’m seeing the fruit.
A lot of people think of their “calling” as just a job or title. But let’s not forget what Jesus said:
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
— Matthew 5:14, ESV
Our calling isn’t just about what we do, it’s about who we reflect. We are called to be a light. But we can only be a light when we’re walking with THE Light:
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
— John 8:12, ESV
As believers, we are also called to share Jesus with others:
“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’”
— Mark 16:15, ESV
I feel as though this is all of our callings, and with these callings, we have the purpose to abide by God’s commandments—to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
— Matthew 22:37–39, ESV
You don’t have to beat the gospel into people. God doesn’t call you to change people. God calls you to allow people to see Him in you and to introduce them to Him. He wants people to come as they are—not how you want them to be. He is the only one who can truly transform them. It is by His name.
“And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
— Acts 3:16, ESV
All in all, I know God has more in store for me. He’s been doing a lot of pruning—lol chileeee, if only y’all knew! But we are taking it one day at a time and just always remember we serve a GOOD God.
End Note:
We all know that seasons change. So, God may pivot you! He may call you into one place or the next. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable—because you want to bear the right fruit in the right season.
Check out the Podcast Button to watch a sermon at my church about how Jesus called people.