“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
Joshua 1:8
Feeling like you don’t have a purpose in life can be debilitating. It can stifle your hope and joy, and abridge the harmony of your body, soul, and mind.
Your Work
Our life purpose is a special gift given to us by God to help each other (1 Peter 4:10). It could be connected to your career, your creative passion, or who you are as a parent, sibling, spouse, or neighbor. This “job” that God gives us could be thought of as big or small but it is definitely significant and it is given to us in service to Him. As explained in 1 Corinthians 12, the work that we are each appointed to do, make up various parts of a whole body, and this body works together seamlessly for God’s divine purpose. God puts each of us where He wants us according to our spiritual gifts and when we connect with God in such a way that we understand what our God given purpose is, it’s life changing! “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 on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).G
Your Plan
Now, lets think about when frustration rears its head. This will happen when your plan for your life does not work out exactly as you expected, according to the specific path that you thought of in your head for yourself. You can see why this may present a problem- it is because this can be a very self-serving mindset. The way to counteract this is by putting God first. “seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).
Start.Put God first. Look to Him for everything, in every decision, and in every move you make. If you make a mistake and go off His path, trust in Him that He will put you back on it. Remember, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Listen to your life. God is continuously speaking to us through life events, and moments that may seem insignificant may indeed be God’s divine guidance. Pay attention and connect with God through His word and through your prayer and meditation time so that these moments that God is speaking to you do not go unnoticed. As the gospel says “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8). How wonderful to have God so carefully guiding us in our lives. Embrace the joy in the journey. Know and accept when God refines us to become our best selves. He will test our hearts with difficulties to strengthen us, to make us effective and capable for our God given purpose.