Purpose. We all fundamentally want to know that there is a purpose to life. It is a question that burns within each of us regardless of age, ethnicity, experience or gender. And for most of us, a significant change of circumstance will cause us to dig deeper into this foundational question of purpose because most of us believe, at least initially, that our purpose is what we do.
But, is my purpose based on what I do? Or do I live, and do, out of my purpose for being alive?
Those are vastly different interpretations.
Young people graduating from high school or college often ask, “What is my purpose?” I did, and most of the people in my graduating classes were similarly seeking the answer to this question. Some sought a spiritual reason for life and mission while others were more achievement minded by self actualization. Generally speaking, young people have a goal in mind as they gain freedom from their parents. Yet, the implementation of purpose may still remain foggy.
For every person, somewhere along the path of life, we hit a bump, a barricade, a dry patch that stops our forward momentum. Perhaps we’ve run so hard without proper hydration. Possibly, we crash and burn because we’ve been achievement focused without filling our emotional and spiritual tanks. Because busy is not our purpose.
It’s a hard truth, especially for young and vital people, that we can only give out of our store of resources. We know that the car, out of gas or battery drained, will not start. We also know that plans will be placed on hold, and extra time will be needed to restore the car’s energy reserves before it will start again. There will be a noticeable detour in our plans for the day because the car will simply be unable to fulfill its purpose, which is to drive you to where you want to go.
“Because busy is not our purpose!”
We get this example, especially all of us who have run a car empty. And yet we don’t get this about ourselves as human beings. We tend to get angry when we find ourselves depleted. It feels unfair to be sidelined, because after all, we were giving our absolute best! Some of us feel depressed because there’s no reserve tank. The disappointment, shame and frustration bubble to the top, but regardless the emotions attached, empty is empty. And that’s a hard place.
Guess what? This happens to older people as well. It happens in the midst of a strenuous and intense career, in the middle of rearing children who increasingly shun your guidance, and sometimes because of health issues. The pace of life slows, and opportunities seem to dry up. Sometimes we find ourselves benched. It could be the perfect storm of a lifetime that rips and crashes the carefully crafted lifestyle. But in the silence of fear, sadness and despair, we all regardless of age want to know…
“What is my purpose?”
What if my purpose, your purpose is much more simple than we ever anticipated?
What if my purpose in being alive feeds the engine of my being and drives the doing of my lifestyle?
“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.”
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
I’m learning my true purpose is to fix my eyes on Jesus, daily. My purpose is to follow Him. And live in this world in such a way as to make Jesus attractive to those who cross my path.
How I fulfill that purpose is in my daily doing. And my daily doing is cultivated by understanding my purpose for each day. Simply put, my purpose is to put my ‘Eyes on Jesus and Shine’. And then I can…
Live love brightly,
Lisa
Some things to ponder with Jesus:
Read through these scriptures. Look them up in various translations. Have a conversation over several days… maybe weeks or even months as you seek God’s view of purpose.
Finding God and getting to know Him in relationship is finding purpose.
“Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go.”
Proverbs 3:6 TPT
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
“My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.”
1 John 4:7-10 MSG
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
What do you think?
Lisa, I so agree. We fulfill our purpose in our daily living. As we stay focused on Jesus, we are more aware of His purposes and He works in and through us to fulfill them. It is then we make Jesus attractive to those who cross our paths. Wonderful post!