Finding Your Purpose in God
Have you ever uttered the words, “What is my purpose in life, God?” or “Is there more to life than this, God?” I’m going to guess…Yes. Did I guess right? I know the answer because I’ve been there myself.
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Finding My Purpose in God
Recently, I decided that I was DONE wasting my precious limited resources on things that I wasn’t 100% sure God wanted me to use them for. Maybe it’s having 4 kids or a family business (or both), but I was just so… tired.
And I was kinda bored.
And I knew that I could be doing more to advance God’s kingdom. I knew He had planned good things for me to do before He even created me, and I wanted to know what those things were, so I could spend my time and energy on those things instead of drifting through my days {seemingly} without purpose.
The trouble was, I didn’t really know what God wanted me to be doing outside of “just” keeping my marriage and kids alive and working on the business stuff that crossed my desk each day.
So I told God I was all in (which, really, we all should be from the moment we give our lives to Jesus; oops), and asked Him to show me what He wanted me to do.
And the moment I really and truly opened myself up to His plan for my life, He started showing me some of the plans He had for me {this blog and adopting another kiddo, for starters}, and I began the adventure of living life totally in line with what He showed me.
Is it easy? No, not usually. Is the path before me always clear? Nope. But I can honestly say that I’m not bored anymore and that I’m (generally) more energized than I ever have been before. This is becuase all of a sudden, I feel the effects of living out a purpose that goes beyond me and my little family bubble.
And, even though I’m just starting, I can already see God working in my life and in the lives of others! Lives are being impacted because God is working through me! And I’m both humbled and honored that He would choose me to be a part of His plan.
I’ve got some great news for you – He wants you to be a part of His plan, too! He planned good things for you to do, too! And I hope that you will take the plunge and go all in for God and begin to discover your purpose. This is the only way you can start living it out and seeing the lives around you benefitting from God’s plan flowing through you.
If you’re not sure what He wants you to do, that’s 100% perfectly ok! I didn’t know, either! All it takes is a willing spirit! If you’ve got that, keep reading and get ready for God to begin to reveal to you what He has planned for you!
And if you’re a little nervous (or even flat out scared), that’s ok, too! It takes a lot of guts to trust God with your whole life, so being a little anxious is to be expected! But I can promise you that it will be worth it; now, when you see the impact you’re making, and in the end, when you get to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)”
Ready? Ok. Let’s get started!
What is Purpose, Exactly?
I’m so glad you asked! Purpose is one of those words that we throw around in phrases like, “You were created on purpose for a purpose (Reggie McNeal)” and “The purpose of life is a life of purpose (Robert Byrne),” perhaps without a complete understanding of what it is exactly.
Oxford Languages defines purpose as “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”
Purpose is also defined as “to have as one’s intention or objective (Oxford Languages).”
Jodi Locklear of simpleminded.life says it this way, “Purpose creates meaning, offers a sense of direction, and helps guide our paths, behavior, and goals when applied to our lives.”
So to sum it up, purpose is why we were created and why we are still here. It tells us what our objectives in life should be and helps us leverage our resources intentionally to reach our goals.
What Does Purpose in God Mean?
Purpose in God is a spin on general purpose that specifies that the creator is God. It refers to the reason or reasons God created a specific thing. It’s why He put us here on earth. Our purpose in God speaks to the role we have to play in His grand plan.
Knowing our purpose in God helps us see how He wants to use us in the big picture of all mankind. It won’t necessarily give us specific tasks to complete, but it will help us make decisions that align our lives with God’s will for us and His plan for our lives and the lives of those around us.
What is Our Purpose on Earth According to the Bible?
Discovering life’s purpose has been a mission of man since the beginning of time. People have always felt the deisre to do something that changes the world, or at least their world. If you can relate, there’s a good reason! God created us each with a purpose, and the Bible is very clear about that.
Bible Verses About Purpose
Ephesians 2:10 – “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. (NLT)”
God planned things for us to do. Good things. But unless we have been created anew in Christ, we can’t do the things God planned for us. I would go a step further and say that, even after we’ve accepted salvation and been created anew, not embracing our new identity in Christ can hold us back in our efforts to do these things. This is why one of our pillars here at Catching Courage is understanding and walking in your identity in Jesus as well as embracing the person God created you to be (instead of trying to be someone else).
Isaiah 43:7 – “‘Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ (NLT)”
Remember, purpose is the reason for which something was created. According to Isaiah 43:7, one reason God made us was for His glory. We glorify Him when we seek His will and live it out by aligning our actions and choices with His purpose for us.
Proverbs 19:21 – “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. (NLT)”
I have been thinking about this scripture (and Proverbs 16:9, which is similar) a lot lately. I think it’s because I love making plans. Who’s with me? Planning is my jam! Unfortunately for me, most of my plans don’t ever happen. And as a planner, that’s super frustrating!
I got so tired of planning and striving for things I never got to see happen that I finally just said, “God, what’s the deal? Why can’t any of my plans ever actually come to fruition?” And in response, God dropped these scriptures into my brain. Huh. I guess I forgot that my plans are not His plans. And, you know what? When I really think about it, I’m glad, becuase His plans are the best!
Align your plans with God's purpose and you'll actually get to see them come to life! Then you get to glorify Him in all that unfolds knowing that it was He who made it happen, not you. Share on XAnd now I’m so focused on the things I know He wants me to do that I don’t really have time to make my own plans that will never actually happen in real life. And I feel certain that as long as I’m making every effort to follow Him, His plan will prevail.
To fully understand what our purpose is according to the Bible, we should also talk a little about calling and mission.
Calling vs. Purpose vs. Mission
Calling, purpose, and mission are often used interchangeably. I know I’m guilty of it, so I thought that maybe I should make sure I understood them all before I go any further. What I found is that they are related, but they are not the same, so I just wanted to take a moment to clarify.
Being called is synonymous with hearing the Gospel and receiving Christ as your personal savior, thereby opening up the possibility of a relationship with God.
Becuase I Googled it and found conflicting ideas on this, I want to share what I found as I dug deeper into the actual Bible (not a man’s words, but God’s).
Once in a while, the word “calling” in the Bible means “vocation.” But most often, the Greek word “klēsis” means “the divine invitation to embrace salvation in the kingdom of God (BlueLetterBible.com).” If you want to dig even deeper, you can take a look at these scriptures…
- 2 Timothy 1:9
- Hebrews 3:1
- 2 Peter 1:10-11
“Mission” refers to sharing the Gospel (evangelism) and making disciples (discipleship). “Disciples” is defined as “those who accept and spread the doctrines of another (Merriam-Webster).” Mission can be seen in these scriptrures…
- Matthew 28:19
- Act 1:8
- Acts 13:47
- Mark 16:15
We have already seen that our purpose is the specific reason we were created by God.
So to connect the dots, once the calling of salvation has been fulfilled, we use our God-given purpose to complete the mission of sharing the Gospel and making disciples.
To give you a personal example, I have accepted the calling of salvation, and I am continually doing my best to follow Jesus and have a relationship with God. As a result, I have discovered that my method of achieving the mission of making disciples is to raise my kids for Jesus and write blog posts to help others become stronger in their faith and desire to be obedient to God’s purpose for them.
How to Find Your Purpose in God
Now it’s time for the rubber to hit the road! When beginning to discover what God had in mind when He created you, it is important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a journey, and the final destination is Heaven. God has been working in you since you were conceived, molding and shaping you into the person you are today, and He will continue to do so until the day you die.
Therefore, there’s no need to rush through the process. Take all the time you need. Our God is a patient God, especially when we’re doing our best to align our lives with His will. Not only that, He knows you inside and out and was very aware of what your process would look like from the get go. He’s cheering you on, and so am I!
Ok! Let’s get started.
First, say a prayer. Here’s one for you, in case you need a little help.
Next, spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the following things:
- Your passions
- Your strengths and natural talents
- Your dreams
- Your experiences
- Your resources
- Your platforms and circles of influence.
Below are some helps to get you started. You might want to take notes or use this free worksheet to help organize your thoughts.
Passions
Your passions are the things that tug on your heartstrings, moving you to tears or stirring up righteous anger within your soul. These are clues God has placed within you that point you to issues He created you to take a stand for. Perhaps the plight of orphans makes you teary-eyed or modern-day slavery gets you fired up.
Strengths and Natural Talents
God knew what your purpose was when he created you, and He gave you natural talents and strengths that will help you fulfill it. So take a minute and think about what comes easiest to you, or what you can do with little training or effort.
Experiences
Experiences help shape us and strengthen us in unique ways. They also allow us to relate to people in ways others can’t. What experiences have you had that have made an impact on who you are today? What trials have you overcome that give you the ability to help people in a way not many others can? What have you learned that you could pass on to those around you?
Dreams
What do you dream of doing? Do you dream of traveling the world, raising a family, or publishing a book? Also, consider what you played at as a child. Did you pretend to be a doctor, healing the sick? Or did you pretend to be a superhero, rescuing people from certain demise? These dreams can be an indication of the things God wants you to chase after in order for your purpose to be lived out in this life.
Resources
What resources has God given you that can help you carry out His work on earth? Has he blessed you financially? What about material things? Would your home be a good place for a life group? Or maybe you could ask new friends out onto your boat for a day of fun and relaxation (and a chance to share the love of Jesus). How much time do you have outside of your daily required tasks? Could some of it be used to further God’s kingdom in some way?
Platforms / Circle(s) of Influence
A platform is a means or opportunity to communicate ideas or information to a group of people (Merriam-Webster). Do you have a large following on social media? Maybe you have brunch with a group of friends every weekend. Or perhaps you’re a mom raising world-changing kids. These are all places God can use you to influence people for his glory. He may have placed you within these circles of influence for a reason.
Discovering Your Purpose – Putting it All Together
Now for the really exciting part – putting it all together! Look for connections or patterns that point you in a certain direction or give you a clearer vision of what God may have designed you for or what He may have been equipping you for.
Remember, it’s not a race, so take as much time as you need thinking all of this through. It’s not usually a cut-and-dried process; there will most likely be intricate ins and outs to consider. And, as it is an ongoing process, your understanding of your purpose can shift and evolve over time. If you get frustrated or stuck, say a prayer, take a break, and come back to it when your mind is clearer. As long as you keep on pursuing God, He will meet you where you are!
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
So? Are you starting to see your God-given purpose take shape? Comment below and let us know! Or, if you need to bounce ideas off someone, join us on FB in our Catching Courage Community!
Catch ya’ later,
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