Finding Your Purpose

Have you ever wondered what you purpose in life is? Perhaps you're like me and often quip about what you want to be when you grow up. Often, I admire those people who seemingly know their purpose and work at it every day. As a Christian, it can sometimes be a challenge to know what it is God has called you to do. One of the reasons it can be so challenging, I think, is because there is the purpose God has called us to and then there is the purpose we seek to fulfill. Most of the times these are not the same. So, we spend the bulk of lives trying to go our way and do our own thing. At a certain point, we get frustrated and ask God, "What do you want me to do with my life?" Expectantly, we wait for an answer. And we wait. And we wait.

Now, it's that God is not answering our prayer. No, that is typically not the case. What I have come to discover is that God has provided unique gifts and talents to us. When I say us, I mean people - believers and non-believers alike. Just look at society and you will see many talented non-believers. While I could expand on this topic, I will leave as is. Suffice it to say, though, that God has provided gifts and talents to all people. Some gifts may not be as extraordinary as others - at least in our eyes. But that is not our concern. God freely provides as He chooses. 

So if the above statement is correct and God provides gifts and talent to all people, then we all have something unique to offer. But how do we find it? And how do we use it for His glory? Some people take personality tests and surveys to assist them in finding the best career field and to help guide them in their life. These can certainly be helpful and narrow the possibilities. I do not pretend to have the solution to such issues. However, what I have learned about life and finding one's purpose is that it isn't as difficult as one might imagine. As people, we all have different interests - passions that we just naturally pursue. Such pursuits may be born out of early exposure and continued practice, i.e. sports. Others might be the result of curiosity and individual interest, i.e. cooking. 

I confess that during the course of my life I have had many interests (and still do). There's nothing wrong with that because we are naturally curious and drawn to those things that intrigue and mesh with our personality and skillsets. But when it comes to finding your purpose, the reason you are here, it can be a bit more challenging than simply pursuing something that interests you. Your purpose has a higher meaning than simply exploiting your talents and wading knee-deep in what interests you. Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why." This is true, especially for a Christian because as a believer, God has called you to fulfill a unique position in his kingdom. Therefore, it is imperative for a Christian to know his purpose. 

Okay, some of you are saying we all have the same purpose, to fulfill Jesus' edict at the Great Commission. Yes, we do. However, how we fulfill that command is going to be largely dependent on the gifts and talents we have been given. So, back to the original question, how do we find our purpose? Well, after decades of pursuing my own agenda and wandering in many directions, I looked back over my life. I saw a common theme - writing. Since I was in high school, I wanted to be a writer. (I'll spare you the back story on that.) It wasn't until many years later that I realized something very important and relevant about talents. God plants those seeds early. Perhaps even while we are in the womb our skills and talents lay dormant. Nevertheless I realized that my passion for writing was something that had been with me since my youth. I attempted to use it for my own pursuits with no success, falsely believing it was my talent, something I developed. But it wasn't. All of our talent, all of our skill and ability is reflective of God's majesty.

Peter wrote, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). And there it is! So simple we miss it. Our purpose is to serve others with the gifts we have been given. Some of those gifts may be more visible than others. For example, one person may be blessed with a unique ability to persevere in trying circumstances while another might be called to the medical field. While one is seemingly more prominent, both are equally important and vital. Each has a unique purpose to which he was called. There's a saying, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." And that is true. Finding your purpose can be a bit challenging, especially in a world filled with distractions. 

The first step is identifying your unique gifts and talents. What are the things you like to do and do well? Now, you don't have to be an expert and master. No, that is not the case. Are you a positive person, someone who can encourage and uplift others? If so, you can do that wherever God has placed you. Oh, by the way, wherever you are in life is where God wants you, so try as you might, you are going to remain there until the work he has for you is complete. While you're there, follow Peter's advice and serve others with your gift. Okay, I hear you. What about those people who don't seem to have any readily identifiable gift? What is their purpose? Great question. My mother was not an educated person. She never had a career. In fact, I'm not even sure if she ever had a job (times were different). What my mother did have, though, was a love of children. Years after her conversion, she taught Sunday school at the pre-school level, and she did it well. Lacking a formal education, her passion fueled her desire to instruct children. Much like my wife, children gravitated to her, which only increased her effectiveness. 

My mother possessed extraordinary faith - perhaps the most valuable gift of all. That faith allowed her to endure disease peacefully. Her ability to battle illness with grace was reminiscent of Job and served as an example to others. With no fear and no doubts, she freely accepted her plight and passed peacefully from this world. Lacking what many might identify as gifts or talents, she led an ordinary life that in turn was an extraordinary example. While it was difficult for friends and family to endure, it wasn't until years later that I realized her life did have a purpose, one for which she was chosen, and one for which she was uniquely equipped. Her faith never vacillated. There was never a moment when she questioned God, as many of us might, and ask, "Why me?" If anything, and I speculate, she privately asked, "Why not me?" Unlike many, my mother identified, understood, and embraced her purpose early as a believer. Not comparing herself to others, she proudly (but modestly) lived the life she was called to live without question. She served God willingly. And that is what we are called to do. 

The second step in finding your purpose is to ask God. After all, He's the one who created you. He's the one who called you and equipped you. Yes, if you have been called to faith, you have been equipped for  a unique purpose. Don't waste time looking at what others are doing. That is not your concern. No, look in the mirror. Chances are you know what you're good at and like doing. You might have a skillset that stands out. If so, go use your talents for God's glory. A personality or temperament sorter might help, but most people know what they like to do and what their areas of expertise are. Rather than pursue your own endeavors, ask God to open doors for you. In many cases, if we just stop and forget about what we want, God will reveal his will to us. And if we consider the gifts he has given us and how we can best use them to serve Him, we will discover our purpose. Yes, our purpose collectively is to serve him, to make disciples of all nations. Individually, we all have a role to play. Christians are not one-size-fits-all. We are made in God's image, but we are unique and distinct. Each of us has a purpose that is ours and only ours to fulfill.