Purpose. Everyone wants it, but not all can seem to discover it.
Having a purpose stands as one of our basic needs. Knowing why God put us on earth and believing we can make a difference both enhance good mental health. If we think we have no purpose, we’ll wander from job to job, relationship to relationship, and hobby to hobby with no initiative and with no conviction that we’ll find happiness in any of them.
I uncovered my purpose early in life but didn’t pursue it until much later. Consequently, I missed out on many years of what could have been pleasurable and spiritually productive endeavors.
Living without purpose brings aimless meandering and depressing moods, but thousands, perhaps millions, do it every day as they wake up with no joy, trudge through the day with no focus, and finally retire—never feeling as if they’ve made a difference.
God’s plan isn’t for anyone to wander through life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).
Regardless of what others might tell us—or even how we might feel—God’s plan is personal and purposeful. Personal because it involves us connecting to him through faith and by accepting what Jesus did on Calvary’s cross. Purposeful because once we enter his family, we can watch as his further purposes unfold.
Discovering God’s purpose involves several methods. Through intense prayer, we can hear the still small voice of his Spirit giving direction. By reading his Word, we can assure our life direction aligns with his moral principles for living. And by interacting with other believers, we can enjoy their wisdom, observe their example, and allow them to give us insight into what God wants to do in our lives.
Living out God’s purpose brings an adventure of ups and downs, mountains and valleys. His plan may change several times over our lifetime, but he will always have something for us to accomplish. Are you realizing God’s purpose for your life?
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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