In this article we will be discussing:
- What is my purpose in life?
- Is there a purpose for me?
- Why is it so hard to find purpose in life?
- Does everyone have a specific purpose in life?
- What does purpose mean?
- Is happiness the most important purpose of my life?
- How do I find my purpose when I am discouraged and hopeless?
- How can I find meaning and motivation?
- How do I work smarter not harder?
- What does purpose look like?
- How can I pursue my purpose with humility?
- Does God have a purpose for my life?
Is there a purpose for me?
Your search for purpose will do well if you begin with your beginnings. In Psalm 139:13-14 we read:
“For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.”
Quite a positive introduction to someone like you and me who have struggled to find purpose in our being, coupled with a desire to serve our purpose. Knowing that God made me and breathed the breath of life in me because He had plans for me has encouraged me and has given me great hope.
God was thinking about you before you were conceived. Since you did not create yourself, there is no way you can tell yourself who or for what you were created. Listen to the voice of God who gave you breath. He wants you to find purpose and He wants to be your guide. You have been loved for a long time.
Searching for meaning in life and setting goals for achieving those goals is worth the effort. Not wanting you to miss out on anything designed for you, so let’s look at some things.
Why is it so hard to find purpose in life?
When we find purpose, our work seems to go easily with the flow. We are not afraid to try because we know we are on course. We have a sense of purpose. We are motivated because we have identified our goal – a specific target, a quantifiable achievement.
Being involved in purposeful achievements helps us overcome isolation and to take responsibilities we never thought possible. It is filling a calling – a calling to become the person we are intended to be and to accomplish that which we have been given to do. It adds joy to our lives.
A purpose fulfilled will bring honor to God.
Why then is this so difficult to attain?
Purpose is difficult to find because it requires submission. Doors have been slammed in our faces. People have walked away. We find it difficult to take a step forward. Submitting to the Lord and asking for guidance will spur us on.
How do I make good choices?
Making choices and setting goals are a part of becoming who you are. A relationship with Jesus Christ establishes fulfillment of your purpose.
You and I were made to bring glory to God. Recognizing God and the abundant life offered here, plus the gift of eternal life He offers, is the beginning of understanding purpose.
Our other choices of career, family, discovery, service to others and dedication to a successful and well lived life are formulated and activated within the purpose God has for us. That purpose is to bring glory to Him, to love others and to serve mankind.
A relationship with Jesus means believing and placing our faith in Him, experiencing forgiveness for all our sins, being assured of His daily presence and help in our lives here on earth, and receiving a promise of a marvelous heaven.
We now are ready to boldly set goals and live a life fulfilling our purpose. Don’t miss it.
Does everyone have a specific purpose in life?
Does every person have a specific purpose in life? Or are there particularly gifted and talented people who have a certain place to fill, while the rest of us just wander around until we find some way to make a living, and then hope we develop relationships that are enjoyable. Rambling like the previous sentence. Is it just luck that some reach their goals?
What does purpose mean?
Purpose means:
- having a reason for living
- a reason for achieving
- a reason for developing new ideas
- a reason for exploring new worlds
Having a sense of purpose steers a person toward satisfaction through attainment of those goals. It is not just a flurry of frantic activity, but rather a satisfaction in determining goals, achieving long range plans, and developing them into a lifestyle.
Accepting the challenge, and thereby ultimately knowing that our lives have fulfilled a purpose, results in a satisfactory joy in living. It is for everyone.
Is happiness the most important purpose of my life?
Are happiness and success the high bars to reach in order to realize your purpose? Perhaps a high bar. But these are not the ultimate goals in living a truly purposeful life.
Purpose is the reason you are doing something
Be it developing a cure for cancer, writing the symphony that has played in your head for decades, or perhaps building a family lifestyle that honors God and produces children who will seek to live with purpose. Purpose produces an energetic happiness and a sense of satisfaction.
Life goes on around us, successes come our way, momentary defeats may knock the wind from us. Yet, when we live with the knowledge of why we are doing something or why we strive for a certain lifestyle or reputation, then we are energized to keep the goals high and continue with a positive resolve.
These challenges form the character in us that indicate we are on the way to attaining our goal of finding purpose. And happiness may well be an offshoot of this endeavor.
Are you missing the goal for finding purpose?
How do I find my purpose when I am discouraged and hopeless?
It is easy to get discouraged when our dream of reaching the goal for our lives seems to hit every bump and miss every curve.
Re-evaluate your written goals, adjust as necessary and pray daily that you will be able to see every blessing or challenge intended for you all along the way. So often we miss blessings meant for us because we are not tuned in because we are being consumed with worry and doubt.
Hardships and trials do not necessarily mean we are off the path of attaining our goal. Character is built from surviving hardships.
A friend shared this story that illustrates a point:
“While our kids were growing up, we vacationed in Colorado just about every year. One of our favorite things was to take a four-wheel drive up to Lead King Basin, and then hike even higher up the mountain. One year in particular, when our boys were very young, we started climbing. One complained about all the rocks. The other son, without looking back, just said, ‘The rocks are what you climb on.’ And he kept going, being the first to reach our destination.”
Recognize that sometimes what we see as stumbling stones are actually stepping-stones, that help us attain our goals.
Use wisely your gift of discernment in establishing your goals and find a safe friend to encourage you and prod you along when you get stuck. We all need someone to walk life with us. We have that in Christ Jesus. We can also benefit from earthly friends.
“…Let us run the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Eager to succeed, to fulfill purpose, to do something meaningful and enjoy life but finding that “the harder I try the farther I am from finding satisfaction?”
How can I find meaning and motivation?
Feeling stymied, depressed, mentally dim, word challenged? Can’t find meaning or motivation? Perhaps you need a refresher. Jesus stepped away from the crowds on occasion; he managed alone times to refresh. Perhaps we should also.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” —Abraham Lincoln
In his book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey begins chapter 7 with a story that may apply to us when we reach a plateau and feel that we are stuck in a rut when trying to realize our goals – whether they be mental, physical, spiritual or emotional:
Suppose you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a tree .
“What are you doing?” you ask.
“Can’t you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.“
”You look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?
”Over five hours,” he returns, “and I’m beat! This is hard work
.”Well, why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen that saw?” you inquire. “I’m sure it would go a lot faster.
”I don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy sawing!”
How do I work smarter not harder?
Are we thinking too highly of ourselves when we do not build in time for renewal, for rest, for stress reduction, for recreation? Perhaps we cheat ourselves when we do not take time to refuel. We need quiet time to meditate and converse with our Lord. Jesus was known to withdraw alone for time with His Father. We should do the same.
We must build in time for adequate sleep and exercise. We were also meant for community, so we need to make plans to be with others, to share joy and to laugh together. We will be more effective in the projects we are “sawing” on.
The old saying of working smarter, not harder, can be applied on most any level. It is a lesson to be learned – and practiced. Sharpening your metaphorical saw is time and effort well spent.
Does God have a purpose for my life?
Christians believe that God has a purpose for each of us. The common purpose is that we are to love him, trust him, accept Jesus as Savior to forgive our sins, and be led by his Spirit to love others, to be kind, to share His message of forgiveness and acceptance, and care for his world and other people. We can then forgive as we have been forgiven.
This acceptance allows us to develop the peculiar talents and abilities that we have been given, while knowing that the seminal goal or purpose for our life is steady and sure.
Living a life of purpose involves using the abilities and talents that you have been given to serve others. It is necessary then to develop those gifts so they can be the most useful.
Continual learning, reading, practicing and sharing those gifts results in stellar gifts being developed. Amazing things produced through a partnership with our amazing God.
Seeing the results of eradicating hunger and disease, providing well for your own, making beautiful music or building beautiful buildings – whatever God has endowed you with the ability to do in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences – assures you that you have found purpose in your life.
These abilities glorify God; your purpose is realized.
“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings.”
I Peter 4:10
How can I pursue my purpose with humility?
A reminder: real servants maintain a low profile, one of humility. We must remember not to seek the spotlight, but rather let our gifts spotlight our Lord.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ._ Colossians 3:24
What does purpose in life look like?
Purpose – strive to be of sterling character.
Think of some of the best things that you would like to be said of you
- A person of your word
- Always take care of family
- Put others first
- Help those in need
- Kindness
- Welcome people to your home
- Always have a positive and encouraging word
- Even tempered with self-control
- Generous
- Gives good advice
- Hard worker
- Committed employee/employer
- Fair to all
- Practice good health habits
- Dresses appropriately
- Fun and interesting
- Follower of Jesus
- Live within means
- Live without fear
- Joyful
- Encourager
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
How to find your purpose in life
Setting the goal of finding purpose in life in general, in finding a purpose for your individual life or purposing to live a life full of purpose, demands a steadfast and unwavering dictum.
Unwavering in our resolute goal to live a purposeful life and depending upon God to lead us as we grow, we choose and diligently seek to live a life worthy of our calling.
Make wise decisions. Know that what you say and do really does matter. Become the person for which you were intended.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
If you would like to find your true purpose in life, I invite you to watch the free gift video below.
