So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. – Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT
The questions usually start around tenth grade; for some people, maybe sooner. Are you going to college? Where are you going to college? What do you want to study? What do you want to do after college?
In essence, what do you want to do with your life?
These are huge questions to ask a 15 or 16 year old, and it’s honestly a little bit shocking that they’re expected to have an answer at such a young age! But the questions don’t stop there. After college it’s, where are you going to work? Are you going to get married? Are you having kids? When are you having kids? And then, even later on in life: Are you going to retire? When are you going to retire? What are you going to do after retirement?
These questions touch on something fundamental about our humanity: the presupposition that our life has meaning, and that we must make it count—from start to finish—by doing something worthwhile with our time and talents.
The Origin of Purpose
Everything God does, He does with intention and care. From the beautiful simplicity of a single-celled organism to the mindblowing complexity of a human being, God has a specific design and purpose for each thing He creates.
So the answer to the question where does my purpose come from? is a simple one: it comes from God alone, by virtue of that fact that He made you! Even if you never accomplish a single thing in your life that the world would call meaningful, your life itself is meaningful because you were made in God’s image.
How Your Identity in Christ Gives You Purpose
For those of us in Christ, we know that this world and this life are not all there is. One day, Jesus is going to return and redeem the earth back to its original design. We will be given new, perfected bodies with which to enjoy God’s presence and His creation forever (Revelation 21).
But in the meantime, what we do on this side of eternity matters greatly. We don’t toil day in and day out, only for those efforts to be made moot when we die. On the contrary! Every good deed we do, every beautiful thing we create, every relationship we build, every imperfect demonstration of God’s love we show to others—all of it is a glimpse into God’s future Kingdom and helps to usher it in, even here and now.
With that understanding, we should “work willingly at whatever [we] do, as though [we] were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23 NLT). No matter what God has called us specifically to do, we should be the best employees, the most forgiving family members, and the most generous friends, because we know our purpose and the reward for fulfilling that purpose well surpasses even the most irresistible rewards of this world (Matthew 6:19-20).
What If I Lose My Sense of Purpose?
Sadly, though, the knowledge that our life has meaning doesn’t always safeguard us against feeling overwhelmed, or like all our efforts are being wasted. It’s so easy to get bogged down by life. Living the same routine day after day can become monotonous and frustrating. It can even make you question the purpose behind your actions.
In the first book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon writes,
“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now. – Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 NLT
These are pretty bleak words! If you can relate to his sentiment, if you’ve ever thrown your hands up at life and said what’s the point?!, know that you’re not alone. God has so much grace for you. In seasons when everything starts to feel pointless and you lose your sense of purpose, let God’s promises be a balm for your heart and soul.
- And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. – Romans 8:28 NLT
- The LORD will work out His plans for my life—for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. – Psalm 138:8 NLT
- “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
- For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. – Ephesians 2:10 NLT
- I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me. – Psalm 57:2 NLT
The Purposeful Path
When you’re living in step with God and obeying His commands, He will always steer you back to the truth of your identity and purpose in Him—as many times as you lose sight of it.
To glorify Him, serve Him with grateful hearts, and flourish as the beautiful sons and daughters He created us to be—that is our ultimate purpose. And we can walk through this life with full confidence in the fact that our efforts will one day be fulfilled and redeemed by our gracious heavenly Father.
