Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Life Purpose”.
Why am I here?
I’m guessing (pretty safely) that you at some point have asked yourself this question. In fact, I think it would be safe to say that this existential question has been asked at some point by most of mankind. Philosophers have spent pages of ink and hours of debate to answer that very question. Personal growth gurus have written assessments and articles to help people in search of their “Why?”
Why?
Steve Taylor, a lecturer on psychology for Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom wrote this:
- The need for purpose is one the defining characteristics of human beings. Human beings crave purpose and suffer serious psychological difficulties when we don’t have it. Purpose is a fundamental component of a fulfilling life.
In this article, he contrasts the effects on a person when they don’t have a sense of purpose can be anxiety, boredom and depression. On the other hand having a sense of purpose life becomes more enjoyable, less complicated, and less stressful.
Mark Twain once said, “The two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day you discover why.”
So we search to understand why are we here…what is our purpose?
I have to admit, this statement has challenged me for two reasons:
- Are we on a cosmic search for the ONE reason for which we were born on this earth?
- Is life meaningless until you discover the reason you are here?
- Is our life purpose to discover what our life’s purpose is? What if we never “find it”?
We all want to have purpose in life. Yet a 2020 article posted on www.verywellmind.com stated that only 25% of people identify that they have clarity on their purpose.*
So 3 out of 4 of you reading this struggle or have struggled to understand your purpose in this world.
The fact that we look for purpose indicates that we are all created with a purpose and for a purpose. But, could it be that we are looking for purpose in life either the wrong way or in the wrong place? Anything in life that has a purpose, has a Creator. Someone makes something or uses something for a purpose. So, the place for us to begin in this journey to understand our purpose is to ask the one who made us (You begin to see that truly understanding my purpose begins with a worldview that we have a creator. Acknowledging this may be the challenge of many.) When I ask God, my Creator, “Why did you create me?” his Words and truth in the Bible begin to educate and show me my purpose on this earth.
This week we will look at John 15:1-8 (I encourage you to listen to the full message via the link above) and develop this purpose Jesus speaks of in John 15:8: This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
An early Christian influence, Augustine of Hippo put it this way: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
Continue reading this week to discover more about your purpose in life so you a) see God’s purpose for you and b) discover renewed hope in life by having a renewed purpose each day.
Apply: Evaluate where you are finding or looking for purpose. Begin to ask, “God what is your purpose for me today?”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating me and giving me purpose. Help me to see it more clearly and live it more fully each day. AMEN.