3 Promises From The Lord When You’re Searching For Your Purpose
As God's image bearers, our desire for a life of purpose has been ingrained into the very depths of our being by our Creator. We can all relate to that deep longing in our hearts to discover and understand our God-given purpose. We all want to feel necessary, have a sense of belonging and personal significance, and experience the satisfaction of an accomplished life.
As Christians, finding our purpose in nothing other than the Lord himself is crucial. However, knowing that our purpose resides ultimately in God doesn't mean that its particular design and layout for our lives will always be crystal clear or easily made known. Therefore, although searching for your purpose may be challenging, I encourage you to fill your cup with the Lord's promises as you wait, for His eternal Word will give you strength, guidance, and clarity. Here are three promises from God as you search for your purpose.
1. Your Purpose is First and Foremost Found in God
Here at Worthy of Grace, we like to talk about two things that we call our primary and secondary purposes. Our primary purpose is the same for every Christian: to love God and be loved by him, love others, share the Gospel, and live holy lives. These are the fundamentals of living the Christian life. One place in the Bible where we learn this truth is in Matthew 22:36-39 where Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is. He replies…
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Our secondary purpose differs for every Christian; it consists of using our spiritual gifts to complete the unique vocation and good works God has prepared for each of us. We see this in Ephesians 2:10, which reads…
“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
This secondary purpose is what some refer to when they speak about discovering their life's calling. Specifically, they're seeking God's will on which path to follow in life, whether it involves their career, education, marriage, family planning, where to live, volunteer opportunities, ministry, etc.
While our secondary purpose tends to take the spotlight, our primary purpose is the most important! Without the primary, there can be no secondary. And in the absence of the secondary, there's still always the comfort of the primary. This truth leads to one of God's most comforting promises: your primary purpose in this life is rooted in Christ. For instance, you may be at the top of your career or jobless, single or in a God-ordained relationship, happy with your stage of life, or struggling to see the point of your current season. Yet, you're always God's child, marked by His great love, and you can choose to share that love with the community where God has placed you as his representative. So while searching for your secondary purpose, be at peace for your life's most important purpose has already been assigned to you in Christ.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
2. God Has a Plan for Your Life
The search for your purpose can be prolonged and tiresome; some would say it's ever-changing and lasts a lifetime. For this reason, it can be easy to doubt whether God even has a plan for your life.
I remember when I was about to graduate college. I discovered that the career path I'd chosen to study in school was not the right fit for me, and I was struggling to figure out what I would do next. With graduation approaching soon and an unsure future in front of me, I had no choice but to trust God for guidance.
Honestly, I was scared and lacked the confidence to jump into the unknown, and fears of disappointing my family and mentors followed me daily. But I put my future in God's hands, and He set me on a journey of finding my true purpose. This walk with Him took years, many twists and turns, and a complete resetting of my heart to truly understand His purpose for my life. So I know firsthand what many of you might be experiencing in your search. I can relate to the doubts of thinking you'll never know your purpose or figure out what to do with your life.
Fortunately, God's Word crushes this lie for us, for he assures us with the hope that he sees us and has a plan for our lives. Take a look at what He has to say:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." Psalm 32:8
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." Proverbs 16:3-4
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3. There is a Purpose For the Waiting
Friend, God is a purposeful God. He will never make you wait without reason. So if you find yourself in the middle of searching or in a season of waiting, know that it's for a greater purpose.
But what purpose could this desert season have? For one, God is prepping you for what lies ahead. What if I told you that you're not yet ready to step into God's purpose for your life? I know it can be hard to understand the reason for the wait, especially when you desire it so much. However, the purpose you seek may require the development of spiritual gifts and physical skills and, most importantly, the growth of godly character. Moreover, it will require a certain level of maturity, aptitude, and sacrifice. God desires to build these traits in you while you wait. Remember, God is a good and loving Father. He will never give you something that isn't in his perfect timing and for your benefit.
Another purpose for the waiting season is the growth and strengthing of your faith. God's ultimate goal is always to bring us closer to Him and transform us more to be like his Son, Jesus. He wants you to press into Him, trust Him, worship Him, and allow Him to change you spiritually more and more each day. Therefore, the time we spend searching for our purpose is perfect because, during that time of waiting, we learn to rely entirely on God's grace to persevere. And it's only by depending on his grace that our faith can blossom.
So when you feel like giving up on the search for your purpose, or doubts begin to creep in, realize that God has promised to make something beautiful from the wait. Remember, there is a purpose in waiting, and God will help you see it through to completion.