Finding Your Purpose In Life

Many people today are confused about finding their purpose. Even those who have a strong belief in God are confused and have a hard time knowing where to put their time and energy.  Some know their belief in God is number one and have a desire to love and serve Him, but they get bogged down in all the choices available. Once upon a time, life didn’t offer so many choices. People worked on the family farm or went to a neighboring town to find employment such as running a store or teaching school or handling the horses. Life was simpler. 

It boggles the brain when a young adult looks at all the many choices available today. One of my grandchildren showed me the career options now available for college degrees and I got exhausted just looking at it. But this conversation isn’t just for young people starting out in life. All of us are faced with a “new life” repeatedly as we age. Our worlds will turn upside down over and over again. The first big adjustment is when our children leave home. Many of the activities that fill the days are no longer on our calendars. Ball games and practices and homework and doctor’s appointments are erased from our schedules so how do we fill our time? Then grandkids enter the picture and lives take on new responsibilities and purpose. Later, we retire from a job we did for years. This opens the door for new goals and dreams. So, the conversation of “finding our purpose” is relevant to everyone, as we are constantly growing and changing. 

If you are a bible believing child of God, and I’m certain since you are reading this that you are, you should know that our two main purposes in life are 1. Love God and 2. Serve Others. That comes straight out of the bible. But how? Where? What’s best? Can God use me? These questions and more haunt the young and old alike.  Implementing God’s purpose for our life seems to be the bottleneck for stepping into new things. So, let’s go with the assumption that your purpose is clear—you want to love God and serve others—then, what can you do to fine tune that truth and walk it out in a way that is pleasing to God and you. After all, it is your life. It is your talents and your abilities and your desires. This is a little bit about you. Wait! I thought we all learned from Rick Warren’s book that it’s not about me!! You’re right. It’s not about you at all. It’s all about God. But, let’s be fair, it’s you living the life God wants you to live, so, in that way, it is about you. It is about your choices to serve Him in whatever number of days you are on this earth, so how do you decide whether to do it as a banker or a school teacher or a graphic artist or a professional athlete??? Lions and tigers and bears, OH NO!! 

Let’s look at a few things that might be helpful as you make those important decisions on how to spend your days.  

First, is having a purpose important to living a good life? Besides the important biggie of serving God and others, there are some things about serving and purpose that psychologically matter. (But I’m pretty sure God already knew that when He charged us with working starting in Genesis 1.)  Here’s a few reasons if you need them to back up what the bible says. 

1. People who know they matter or have a purpose really do live longer. A 2010 study in Applied Psychology 2 found that people with a high level of well-being, which involves having a sense of purpose, live longer. 
2. The study also found that people with a purpose were healthier longer.
3. A purpose gives a person meaning and a reason to get up in the morning. That translates to a better feeling of self-worth, which translates into a healthier mental state. 
4. Studies show people with a purpose are more likely to stay away from drugs and alcohol, which leads to a healthier lifestyle for you and those around you. 
5. A long-term study conducted by Rush University of a group of adults who were monitored as they aged. Those who reported the highest sense of purpose in their life were twice as likely to be free of the symptoms of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. 

There you have it. Many great reasons to finetune your purpose in life. So, now to the finetuning thing. That’s where many get hung up or bogged down, not knowing what to do to please God and be happy. We are all allotted a number of days to live, and we all want to live those days with purpose and a degree of happiness. Right? Here are a few suggestions to help weed through all of life’s choices. 

1. Donate time, money, or talent to a cause you believe in. For me, it has been Christian camping. I came Camp Ch-Yo-Ca when I was fourteen years old, and it changed my life. I have spent every summer since 1967, except one, working for Camp Ch-Yo-Ca. I have served in every area from lifeguard to executive director. Camp gives me a purpose. There are so many great causes out there. It doesn’t have to be something you do for 50 years, but find a place to donate your time, money, or talent. 
2. Listen to those you trust. Many years ago, while working as in the craft shed in camp, the director at the time came up to me and said he would like me to direct a summer session. I was shocked! I did not see myself in this position, but he did and after being the director that summer, I held the position for over twenty-five years. In fact, I am still one of the directors. I have turned over the executive director job to my grandson. So, listen to those who love you. They will see things in you that you cannot see.
3. Look at who you are spending time with. Are the people you spend time with interested in a purpose for their life or are they wandering around without direction? To live a meaningful, purpose-filled life, the people you associate with are important. They are the ones who will speak to you, give you advice, inspire you to be better, do better. So, choose your friendships wisely. 
4. Stretch yourself. Don’t only go to, talk to and associate with the people, events, and organizations that are comfortable to you. Stretch yourself and explore new people and new ideas. Something might happen that could change your course of life when you open your mind to new people and new ideas. Stretching sometimes hurts, but it’s always beneficial. 
5. Dig deeper in the things that do interest you. Once you discover you are interested in something, dip into it. For me, I discovered at liked tennis when I was 42 years old. I liked it but wasn’t good at it at all. I found an instructor and dug into learning all about this newfound interest. I also discovered an interest in mission work, so I got a passport and listened for the next time our church was going on a mission trip, and I joined the crew. That lead to years of work and the ability to take both my kids and my grandkids. Nothing better! So, take what you like and dip a little deeper. 
6. Be open to change. Finding your purpose might create some changes. Anytime you open your heart to new things and dig deeper to learn more about that thing, change will come. Don’t be afraid. If God calls you, He will equip you. There is nothing you can not do with God on your side. 

I hope this helps you as you grow and change and become all what God wants you to be. If you are looking toward Jesus, you can’t go wrong. There is not wrong place when your heart is right with Jesus.

Hugs, Chrys