Purpose
I still remember that moment in high school somewhere between math and gym class when I contemplated one of life's deepest questions: "Do I have a purpose?" I began to imagine myself getting a job, getting married, having kids and then someday dying. I felt a pang of dissatisfaction as I thought it over and some more sobering questions invaded my mind "Am I here just to go through the cycles of life?" "Is there any point to life?" I didn't realize it then but my heart ached for the reassurance that God has a plan for my life. As I became involved in a church, began reading the Bible and getting to know God, that reassurance that I had longed for flooded my heart. God has a purpose for me and for everyone.
One of the most commonly quoted scriptures pertaining to God’s purpose and plans is Jeremiah 29:11 in which God speaks to His chosen people the Israelites:
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (NASB)
As God’s people we can take comfort that He has a plan for our lives. Even when situations seem hopeless and life appears mundane, we know that He hasn’t created us without a reason and purpose. Not only does God have plans for us, but they are plans for our good. God’s desire is that His plans for us would fulfill every longing inside of us, and fill us with hope and satisfaction that our life will not result in misery but in joy and purpose.
How can we know God’s plan for our life? Although we would love Him to, God doesn’t usually reveal His whole plan to us in one sitting. Discovering God’s purpose for our life can happen in small steps as we say ‘yes’ to the opportunities that we believe God has placed before us, and make choices out of our obedience to what we believe He is asking us to do.
Sometimes God asks us to do something that doesn’t seem to make any sense but if we trust and obey Him, we see later on that it all contributed to a great outcome that we could have never arranged by ourselves.
It is a beautiful truth that the Bible will never lead us astray. The pages of the Bible contain God’s will for us as His children. As we read the Bible we can learn about the new life that we have as born-again Christians, and look at real examples of people who were transformed and lived out God’s purpose for them. The Bible helps us to know God’s will for us and inspires us through real examples of people who loved Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him.
God loves when we pray to Him. He enjoys communing with us and talking with us. Spending time in prayer is another way that we can learn about God’s plan for us. When we pray it is so important for us to not only talk but listen. It is in our listening that our hearts can be refreshed by God’s sweet words to us and His directions for us.
Through the ups and downs of life, we can cling to our loving Father who knows the beginning and the end. Although our circumstances may seem overwhelming and even frightening at times, our hearts can take refuge in the truth that God’s plans for us are good and will result in only goodness.
As we get to know God more and purpose ourselves to walk in obedience to Him, we may not be able to say what His plan is, but we can have confidence that we are on the path that He has laid out for us.
One of the most commonly quoted scriptures pertaining to God’s purpose and plans is Jeremiah 29:11 in which God speaks to His chosen people the Israelites:
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (NASB)
As God’s people we can take comfort that He has a plan for our lives. Even when situations seem hopeless and life appears mundane, we know that He hasn’t created us without a reason and purpose. Not only does God have plans for us, but they are plans for our good. God’s desire is that His plans for us would fulfill every longing inside of us, and fill us with hope and satisfaction that our life will not result in misery but in joy and purpose.
How can we know God’s plan for our life? Although we would love Him to, God doesn’t usually reveal His whole plan to us in one sitting. Discovering God’s purpose for our life can happen in small steps as we say ‘yes’ to the opportunities that we believe God has placed before us, and make choices out of our obedience to what we believe He is asking us to do.
Sometimes God asks us to do something that doesn’t seem to make any sense but if we trust and obey Him, we see later on that it all contributed to a great outcome that we could have never arranged by ourselves.
It is a beautiful truth that the Bible will never lead us astray. The pages of the Bible contain God’s will for us as His children. As we read the Bible we can learn about the new life that we have as born-again Christians, and look at real examples of people who were transformed and lived out God’s purpose for them. The Bible helps us to know God’s will for us and inspires us through real examples of people who loved Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him.
God loves when we pray to Him. He enjoys communing with us and talking with us. Spending time in prayer is another way that we can learn about God’s plan for us. When we pray it is so important for us to not only talk but listen. It is in our listening that our hearts can be refreshed by God’s sweet words to us and His directions for us.
Through the ups and downs of life, we can cling to our loving Father who knows the beginning and the end. Although our circumstances may seem overwhelming and even frightening at times, our hearts can take refuge in the truth that God’s plans for us are good and will result in only goodness.
As we get to know God more and purpose ourselves to walk in obedience to Him, we may not be able to say what His plan is, but we can have confidence that we are on the path that He has laid out for us.
by: Jenny Duffy
