Finding purpose in life can and should be considered a wonderful revelation. Unfortunately, many feel their lives are seemingly meaningless. I truly believe we all have a definitive purpose, but finding that purpose may not be clear to most people.
For 40 years, I was completely satisfied with simply existing and feeling pretty good about my personal accomplishments. My focus was totally on my well-being and, frankly, I didn’t give much thought about the bigger picture of the world around me. It’s as if I assumed the whole world revolved around me exclusively.
There’s another consideration we must take into account. Are you willing to look at the possibility that God has a purpose for you?
In fact, let me share these words found in Jeremiah 29:11-12. “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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
These words were first spoken to the Israelites who were hopelessly exiled in Babylon in the 7th century B.C., but I believe they are meant for and pertinent to all generations.
Let’s take this a bit further. Are you willing to consider that our Heavenly Father’s desire is to see us corporately love each other, put the needs of others before our own needs and orchestrate a world order that is pleasing to Him?
You see, I truly sense He has a “big picture” approach for His greatest creation. All we have to do is imagine life before sin came into existence in the Garden of Eden. Granted, there will always be those who have no desire to follow His lead and would prefer to simply live a selfish rather than a selfless life.
Paul presents this ideology in his letter to the church in Ephesus. In Ephesians 1:11-12 we read, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”
Our Father not only cares for our well-being, but He also wants us to experience the extreme joy of knowing beyond the shadow of doubt that we are pleasing to Him. That’s the way all fathers should demonstrate their unconditional love for their children.
Unfortunately, this concept of a loving father may be foreign to many of you reading this. Many, many fathers have dropped the ball over the centuries and have let their children down. If I could redo my past, I would certainly be a more loving and caring father to my daughter.
And yes, I certainly found fault with my own father and the way he raised me and my younger brother. Then again, there is a significant difference in the attributes of our Father in Heaven. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present.
Here’s the bottom line: God wants us to find His true, unique and distinct purpose for our individual lives. Each of us is made and formed by Him especially for His purpose. He has a plan for you and wants what’s best for you as we partake of this wonderful experience called life here on earth.
May He be glorified in your life!
Passages to Ponder
— Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent in Santa Barbara. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. As a longtime member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he started writing Fourth Quarter Strategies columns in 2014, and he now reaches an international audience through the CBMC International devotional Monday Manna. He can be contacted at jim@fourthquarterstrategies.com for more information. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.