How To Find Your Purpose In God

It's that question that keeps u.s. upward at nighttime, that makes united states anxious and lamentable when we don't get what we think nosotros demand: "What is my life purpose? Why did God create me? What am I supposed to be doing here?"

It tin can turn into an existential crisis if we don't tie down exactly what our purpose on earth is. This question brings stress to many young people who are looking for direction in life. Even older people question their life purpose, asking what they have achieved and contributed to the world. Were you designed for a greater mission?

Scripture about finding your life purpose in God; Proverbs 19:21 from the New Living Translation: "You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail."

Well, yes, in a mode. Not necessarily for a "greater" life purpose—you lot could already be reflecting God'due south plans for you, and you just haven't realized it. But God does accept intentions for yous, a reason he created you lot—God knows what your life purpose is.

Will he just come out and tell me what that is already?!

Number one: God has created all of us—and you specifically—to praise and worship him, and to live in service of the God nosotros love. This is the most important function of whatsoever Christ follower and one that nosotros should be working at every unmarried twenty-four hours. God wants us to love him and worship him, giving thanks for all the good that he has washed in our lives (even the very small things!) and doing everything nosotros tin to bring his love to others in service of him.

Scripture about finding your life purpose in God; 1st Corinthians 15:58 from the New Living Translation: "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for the know that nothing you do for the Lord is useless."

Beyond loving God, at that place is no direct road to determine exactly what your life purpose in the Kingdom is, merely we can use some guidelines to endeavour to figure it out.

The wonderful book TouchPoints for New Believers lays out what the Bible says about finding your life purpose:

God not only knew all about y'all earlier you were built-in but wanted you to exist born, and he has a plan for your life. . . .

The Bible talks well-nigh God's having both a general plan and a specific plan for your life. He wants you to follow a sure path toward his desired purpose for you, but he too cares almost the details forth the fashion. In both the big and the pocket-sized picture, God shows his dearest and care. . . .

God's plan for your life is non an unthinking, automated script that you must follow. It is a journey with various important destinations and appointments, just also a great bargain of freedom as to the footstep and scope of the travel. God's plan for yous will always have a sense of mystery, merely y'all tin be certain that he will guide you as long as you rely on his leading.

Scripture about finding your life purpose in God; Jeremiah 1:5 from the New Living Translation: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart."

Jeremiah 29:11: "I know the plans I have for yous," say the Lord. "They are plans for good and non for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Sometimes you might be tempted to question God'south will for your life, thinking he has fabricated a fault. Ultimately, what looks similar a mistake to you lot now will exist God'due south means to bring about something fulfilling and wonderful. . . .

God may call you lot to do a sure job or to accomplish a very specific task or ministry. When that happens, he will brand sure yous know what it is—you volition feel a very potent sense of leading from him. It's up to you to reply and walk through the door of opportunity he opens.

Scripture about finding your life purpose in God; Philippians 1:6 from the New Living Translation: "I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Of course, the fact that y'all follow Jesus doesn't necessarily mean that y'all're being called to a specific chore or ministry. If you sense God leading you to a specific role, great—run with it! If you don't get that sense from God, possibly your life purpose is simply to obey God wherever you are right at present.

And things can change, also. Perhaps you're not being called to a ministry right at present, simply in the futurity, once God has prepared you, you may be called into a more specific life purpose. It may be expected, or it may come up straight out of left field, just you'll know it when information technology appears.

Image of colored pencils sitting in a tin mug on top of some artist drawings. Exploring the question of what is your life purpose and how do you use your gifts and skills for the Kingdom?

Think almost your "holy discontent"—the thing that touches your heart and so much that y'all just have to help. Possibly information technology's a community's lack of admission to water, didactics, or Bibles that riles yous. Perhaps you desire to meet the kids in your own neighborhood become a new youth center. Does something demand cleaning up? Or do yous desire to encourage hospital patients? Any i of these things could be function of your life purpose. Recollect nearly what moves you lot and how you might be able to make a difference. If you're doing it for the glory of God and to demonstrate the honey of Christ to others, then you're on the right track.

What are you passionate about? What is the bailiwick that you could talk about for hours? Is it fine art? Music? Sports? Are you passionate about economics, health, or science? Practice you love to help others find religion in Jesus? Recollect about how you can connect your passion to your piece of work for God. For example, if you're a musician and you beloved to help others detect faith, possibly explore ways in which you can provide music for your church's evangelism efforts.

Scripture about finding your life purpose in God; Romans 8:28 from the New Living Translation: "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."

Very often we tin can find the greatest joy in our work for God by marrying our passions with our skills.

Accept you idea about your spiritual gifts? Have you discovered what your gifts are? That'due south a smashing place to showtime when thinking near your life purpose. God gave you lot those gifts so you might farther the Kingdom on world and honor him. What tin you do to make a departure in your local area, using your own unique God-given spiritual gifts? Do you lot already use them as part of your piece of work? Or do y'all flex those muscles in ministry? If you don't, find a way in which you can use them—you'll find such great joy in doing what God intended for you lot.

A father and three children plus a dog all sit together on the floor as the children play a game. Thinking about how to discover your life purpose in God.

Don't forget, your life purpose for the Kingdom may be different from your career, so look for other ways in which you are able to glorify God. Volunteer somewhere, organize a charitable upshot, inquire how you tin assist around your church. Start with an thought of what you're passionate about and what your spiritual gifts are—they will assistance guide you in discovering your purpose.

Speak with your "spiritual counselors"—your friends in pocket-size group, your mentors, and church leaders. Y'all may be surprised to observe that they have already identified areas in which y'all would thrive and actually boost efforts for the Kingdom.

How will you know when you lot have constitute your life purpose? That'due south simple: Y'all will find great joy in doing it. Information technology will be the task or outcome that makes you happy, even if it really tires you out! It'due south the thing that surprises yous with energy and enthusiasm every time you do it. Keep an eye on the tasks that bring you the virtually joy and focus on those. If something doesn't thrill you and it's simply draining, think about finding something that does bring you joy. Take discover of patterns in energy and weariness that will suggest where yous should be concentrating your efforts.

A large group of diverse people enjoy a party in an outside event space. Could you have the gift of hospitality? Do you enjoy organizing events? Answer questions to discover your life purpose.

Finally, let's get some perspective on how much we should be worried virtually what nosotros're doing, versus who we are in God. In her half-dozen-week Bible study Made To Belong, the wonderful author Rachel Anne Ridge sets out beautifully how we are to keep our optics on God and not on ourselves:

God is a brilliant multitasker. At whatever given time, His purposes are e'er at work in your life, and they unfold in two distinct ways:

God's purpose for every person. This has to exercise with who you are: your character, your spiritual life, and your connexion to others. It is all about your centre.
God's unique, overarching purpose for y'all in the ways your experiences, your personality, your gifts, and your unique wiring work together. This has to practise with what you lot exercise: you could say it's all about your hands.

Now, it's tempting to leapfrog over number one (who you lot are) and get direct to number two (what you do), just you might miss something big if you practice. The fact of the matter is, who you are is far more important to God than what you practice. Equally far as He is concerned, no thou purpose in the world can e'er supersede a middle that wants to know and love Him, and to that stop He will ever be working, through every circumstance, to help you find Him and experience His beloved. Merely put, God is working in you, so that He can work through you lot.

A quote from Rachel Anne Ridge, important to think about when considering your life purpose; "Who you are is far more important to God than what you do."

Fifty-fifty if you don't know what the "through you" part is going to look like, it's exciting to know that the "in you" part is already under way! Every bit a person placed on this planet, you are loved beyond measure and treasured more than than you tin can imagine. God is filling you with His graphic symbol and grace, His mercy and wisdom, and His life and peace. He is empowering you to take on bold new dreams and to dare to believe that He has something more for you lot than a life filled with tasks and activities. His current work within your heart reveals that God is cooking up something good! He has a vision and a purpose for your life—not simply for the time to come, only fifty-fifty for today.

God'due south purpose for your life is not an assignment to complete, just an invitation to participate. (emphasis added)

A singer and guitarist play on a stage to worshippers. Use your skills and passions to discover your life purpose.

So here you run across that God doesn't care only about what you do to help in furthering the Kingdom on earth; he is far more interested in the person that you lot are, and how that person is displaying the love of Christ to others and bringing glory to him.

Acquit that in mind as you lot journeying to discover your life purpose and always think that to praise and glorify God on earth is the whole and merely purpose we need.

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Featured Resource:

Made to Belong past Rachel Anne Ridge and Alive Event Management, Inc. Bring together Rachel Anne Ridge inFabricated to Belong, a six-week journey to discovering and pursuing your unique calling. In this study of Habakkuk (an Old Attestation figure who looked to God for direction and clarity about his biggest purpose), you'll dig deep, effort new things, and pace out of your comfort zones as you motility into an exciting and fulfilling future.

TouchPoints for New Believers by Ronald A. Beers and Amy E. Mason. An excellent resource for anyone new to the religion, or those looking for concise answers for those exploring faith. This book offers answers to major questions from new believers in Christ and supports it all with Scripture.