God has a Purpose for Your Life
While working retail during my college years, one of my co-workers asked me why I was so serious about my faith. She proceeded to tell me that she planned to go back to church when she met the right man but didn’t see the point in going now. I asked her why she felt like she had to wait to go to church. Why not embrace now what she wanted for her future married life?
A lot of young people feel this way. They figure they’ll attend church when they have more responsibility in life and they’re more important to society. Young people often feel like they will have more to offer the world when they have a college degree and can get a “real job.” They feel like they’ll have meaning and purpose in life when they’ve met someone and have fallen in love.
A degree, marriage, children, a career, or whatever else may be on your list doesn’t define your purpose or give you meaning. There’s no need to wait for all that to happen to find purpose in your life. Why wait to be the person you want to be? Be that person now!
Be YOU
You are you – today, tomorrow, ten years from now. God placed a purpose on your life since before the day you were born. Your life is marked by God. He has intention for your life. You do not need to wait until you’re more established to discover that purpose and start pursuing what it is. You do not need to wait to become someone or something else to fully live the life God has given you.
God has a purpose for you now, no matter what stage of life you’re in. In fact, your purpose is HUGE. It isn’t a tiny, minuscule purpose. Even if you feel like all you do is go to school, play sports and do homework, you still have a significant purpose in your life and you should carry out that purpose. If you don’t, then who will?
You have to believe that you’re worthy of a purpose (no matter what stage of life you’re in). You have to understand that God desires something significant for your life. Unless you come to know that truth, you won’t be able to live out your purpose. Once you’ve established this realization, you must recognize that God is the central part of that purpose. Apart from Him, you have no purpose. Apart from Him, you’ll be roaming around aimlessly.
Discovering Your Purpose
To find your purpose, focus on the things you find interesting. Quit wasting your time with things that pull you away from God, you find boring or lifeless (unless it’s school – a lot of your purpose is derived from the atmosphere and experience gained in and around the classroom.) Don’t waste your time sitting in front of a computer, phone or TV screen. Except if you have a unique passion for what is happening behind the screen, your purpose won’t come from the outcome of a video game or TV show.
Begin to serve God by taking the ordinary things you are already doing and do them with and for Christ. Rather than trudging through life on your own, invite Him into your everyday life. Then, as faithfulness develops in those small things, you will have built character to be used by God in larger things.
Listen to God’s calling and nudges. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). He will speak directly to you during times of prayer, through scripture, through other people and in the most unexpected moments. These promptings are essential to discovering God’s purpose for your life. You’re incredibly valuable to God and He wants to speak directly to you. He has a lot to say. His words are full of compassion, care and love for you. Will you make yourself available to listen?
God is Always Building Your Purpose
Even when you don’t feel like you have a current purpose, if you don’t keep yourself in tune with God, then you won’t be ready for what He has in store for you when the time comes. Building the foundation may be your current purpose.
When I was in high school, little did I know that God was establishing the groundwork for a media company. He was building this opportunity in me through the support and care of my parents and siblings. He was establishing this calling through my friends and loved ones. He was crafting me by placing me in certain classes with particular teachers and students. He knew the impact I would make on the lives of others then and now. He was building skills and providing interests that lead me to the work I’m doing today. As I look back, I see how this has always been His plan for me. He was molding and guiding me because I was investing and listening to Him.
Even though it seems like you have a lifetime ahead of you to pursue your purpose, God knows the number of days you have to live. Why not start living now? Don’t wait to pursue Him and His purpose! Now is the time to grow and pursue a God that loves you. Then, when you’re at the stage of life when you believe you can start finally living, you’ll look back and see that you’ve already accomplished a great amount. You’ll see that God has been walking beside you, working with you and using you in significant ways along the path, during the entire journey. You are essential to His plan: Now and Forever.
