The Confusion Surrounding Finding God’s Purpose
Finding God’s purpose for our lives is like finding the holy grail. Pastors preach on it, teachers teach about it, Christians talk about it… but nobody tells you how to find it. It’s one of the most confusing topics in churches. Most people don’t know how to find God’s purpose for their lives, but all of us recognize when somebody else has found theirs.
When you cross paths with somebody who lives the
Paul’s Understanding of His Purpose
Before we tackle finding God’s purpose, it is crucial for us to understand that everybody’s purpose in life is different. We can absolutely not compare what God wants us to do with what anybody else is doing. Paul understood this clearly. In II Timothy 4:7, he says,
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
Paul says, I have fought a good fight, and I have kept the faith. When he talks about fighting a good fight and keeping the faith, he uses the words a and the. When he talks about his course, however, he makes it personal. He uses the word my. “I have finished my course.” This tiny word makes a huge difference. Paul understood that his course was different from everybody else’s. He recognized that God had given him a purpose and plan for life that couldn’t be compared to anybody else’s, and Paul didn’t. He focused solely on what God wanted him to accomplish.
A Simple Six-Step Process
If we could latch on to Paul’s idea, we would find so much more peace in our lives. God has created us all uniquely and gifted us differently. If we were all the same, God wouldn’t need each one of us. The fact that you and I are still on this earth and not in Heaven means that God has a special plan for our lives. He has gifted you and me specifically for what he wants us to accomplish. Your purpose will be unlike anybody else’s. We can not compare ourselves to anyone else. Even someone who is in the same line of work as you will be gifted slightly different to be able to accomplish their purpose differently than you.
A Simple Formula
If we spend our lives comparing ourselves and our lives to others, we are wasting the gifts God has given us. It’s time to stop looking around at others and focus on looking inside ourselves at how God has gifted us and wants us to use those gifts to accomplish His purpose in our lives. How do we do that? We can use simple questions and
- How has God gifted me- what talents do I have?
- What abilities have I developed over the years?
- What is my personality?
- What am I passionate about?
- How can I take the answers to the above questions and combine them to meet a need in other people’s lives?
- Write down your two or three top choices. Pray about those options. Talk
to other close family and friends and get their opinion on your choices. What do they see as a natural fit for you?
Now the formula is simple, but the process may take some time. That’s okay. Take the time to really think through your answers. If you find the answer to number 5, you can begin to find God’s purpose for your life. Don’t overcomplicate it. God only gave you so many talents, passions, and opportunities to grow your abilities. He did that to point you in the direction of what He wants you to do with your life.
*Free Worksheet Download*
To work through the above process, I have created a worksheet you can download here.
Once you work through this process, it may mean you need to make some changes in your life. Read my 3 Ways to Stay Flexible and Be Ready for a Change. Give yourself time and allow God to lead you.
An Additional Resource
One of the books that really helped me when I was trying to work through this process was Fringe Hours: Making Time for You by Jessica Turner.
When we find out what God wants us to accomplish with our lives, we become unstoppable. We get out of bed, excited for the day and ready to work. Is every day perfect? No. Do hard days still come? Yes; but we will have the motivation and drive to keep us moving forward.
