Created on Purpose for a Purpose

We all need purpose. A reason to wake up every morning. For the non-Christian, purpose is harder to find. "Eat, drink, and be merry" works for a while, but eventually becomes empty. The same is true for seeking wealth, power, or fame. For the Christian, purpose is intentional and bigger than themselves. It is not anxiety-inducing, performance-focused, nor as complicated as we make it out to be. Read that again.

Did you know...

There is a direct correlation between anxiety or depression and either not knowing or losing sight of one’s purpose?

 (National Institute of Health, 2023)

I’ve seen it with clients and experienced it myself in different seasons of life. How about you?

• Shortly after my breast cancer diagnosis, I had a renewed purpose. I set out to share in the midst of this trial while offering hope and encouragement. But during the recovery period, I lost my purpose. Looking back, contributing factors included not working, being home alone with my thoughts, and impatience laced with deception. I felt my purpose was put on hold - Not true.

  Purpose is constant even in the waiting.

• A couple years ago I felt the mom role fade from mom to kids who need me to mom whose kids continue to need me less and less. The carpooling and afterschool activities have slowed and the "mom, mom, mom" record has unplugged. Talk about feeling lost, sad, and uneasy. Who am I now after almost two decades of hands-on care for little humans? What am I supposed to do with all of this time I'm not used to having? Take heart, This is normal.

  A common symptom of the sandwich season.

A believer’s purpose is central to whose they are, not who they are.

We were created on purpose for a purpose. God lays this out for us all through Scripture. Purpose is a constant and shared theme while simultaneously looking different ways for different people in different seasons.

• Collectively, a believer’s mission is found in the great commission - chosen and blessed to go out be a blessing to others. The only healthy striving as God's image-bearer is prayerfully reflecting Him as best we can while walking in humility and repentence when we fall short.

• Individually, we are gifted with different talents and equipped for different services to go and do good works prepared in advance.

Often we overcomplicate and get in the way of our purpose. Sometimes we try and force our ideas of our purpose. Other times we self-imposed expectations that cause confusion, distraction, overwhelm. and disconnect.

Don't Overcomplicate:

• Seek Him first. (Matthew 6:33)

• Grow where you are planted (1 Corinthians 7:17)

• Worship enduringly, work wholeheartedly, and love sacrificially. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

There is an enemy who wants believers to forget, confuse, or complicate their purpose (John 10:10a). When we forget who we are, get caught up in our heads, and focus on the seen and temporary, his strategy is working.

• Recognize and Refocus. (James 4:7 )

  
  

You were created on purpose for a purpose.

1. What does purpose look like for you in this season - generally and individually?

   Don't complicate, just look at where God has placed you, be present, and keep listening.

2. What keeps you from living out your purpose?

   Identify the noise (internal and external) and reconnect.

3. What is something you can do to overcome that obstacle?

   Don't complicate, take one action step toward vessel-care realignment.

More Scripture References:

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Psalm 139:14a I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

1John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Corinthians 12:5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.