Jeremiah 29:11 (Purpose)
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).
For those who wonder if God has a purpose for his/her life, there are no greater words of encouragement in the midst of anxiety and confusion than Jeremiah 29:11.
This beautiful promise helps us remember God is sovereign and in complete control even when we cannot see the horizon.
That is why it is critical we TRUST in the Lord for wisdom and discernment, rather than relying on our limited understanding to guide our future decisions.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5–8).
The question, “What is my purpose in life?” weighs heavy on the hearts of most people. It is a common question for those within the church as well as those who reject God altogether, which is interesting if you think about it. Why would someone who has no interest in God or eternity care about his/her purpose in life?
It many ways it comes down to significance. What value do we bring to this world? What role do we play in the lives of those around us? We were certainly created for a reason. How then do we discover our life’s purpose?
A helpful place to start is at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes. After exhausting every possible pleasure of this world and searching for contentment in the things of this world, Solomon determined that life without God is meaningless.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
Solomon had riches beyond comprehension. He tested every theory under the sun only to find himself feeling more lonely, isolated and empty. Why? Because nothing the world offered could ever compare to intimately knowing His creator, hence his extreme frustration and depression over reaching a dead end time and again.
What then is our key takeaway? Simply stated, our purpose is simply to live our lives in such a moral, honest, trustworthy, and righteous way that we glorify God by our actions. Those who do not know Christ should be able to look at our behavior and immediately notice there is something different about us. The question is whether our behavior is more countercultural or secular.
At the end of the day, our goal should simply be to reflect the love of Christ to others who are hurting and broken as an opportunity to meet their needs and share the Gospel of hope and salvation. For the riches that await in heaven one day far outweigh anything this world has to offer.
Therefore, why waste another day wondering what our purpose is? All we need to do is look around and we will see our life’s purpose staring right back at us through the eyes of those God has strategically placed within our path on a daily basis.
