Finding Purpose

Isaiah 14:26 “This is the purpose that is purposed
concerning the whole earth,
and this is the hand that is stretched out
over all the nations.”

I discovered an interesting predicament during a recent prayer event with a certain group of retired men. As the prayer requests went up, a common element began to rise…purpose.

What is it that brings successful men, men who have worked all their lives and provided for their families, stored away wealth wisely, and having acquired wisdom through the ages to then ask for prayer that God gives them purpose?

Could it be that our jobs were so much our identity that when the career is over, and the work has ceased, that our identity gets lost with time?

What about the mother who wraps up so much of her life in her children, that when they are old and having moved away, her identity goes with them?

Is this why marriages fail later in life? A couple has so much of their lives built into their work or families that they really don’t have a relationship to fall back on when that chapter of life has passed?

Raising children is an endeavor that has great value, providing for your family and being steadfast in your work likewise shows character and integrity…but should these be the center of our purpose?

Proverbs 19:21 “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”

Jobs come and go, and for those who have been diligent in work, they will testify that with the jobs comes many trials. Children are a gift from the Lord, but children grow into adults and then make their own choices, sometimes contrary to parents instruction. If we make these our ultimate aim, we might be bitterly disappointed.

There must be a balance to life, from managing responsibility in once sense while understanding that it is God who ultimately gives purpose.

Job 23:13-14 “But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.”

When we consider the life of Job, we witness a man whom God described as “a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” And yet we see shortly thereafter a man who not only loses all of his children but his riches and livelihood as well. Even his friends turned against him, claiming he must have sinned and offended God.

Job 1:20-21 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

If our purpose in life is tied directly to our careers, houses, children, retirement accounts, etc, then what will happen to us if they are taken away? How would you have responded if you were Job? I don’t know about myself, but I doubt I would have responded as Job did.

This is what an upright man looks like in the midst of devastating loss….

Job 1:22 “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

May we all grow into the character of Job.

Finding purpose in life is to look beyond our circumstances, it is to see beyond family or friends, sickness or health, finding purpose is like finding treasure, it is often hidden but when discovered, there is great contentment.

There are many promises of God, the question is whether we will embrace them or not?

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”

Isaiah 46:10 “I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’”

How difficult are the promises of God when life is difficult? They are easy to embrace when everything is going great, but when the roof falls in, how will we respond?

God has a purpose…for you and for me. When we come to the realization that we might not fully comprehend his purpose, we are left with learning how to trust.

Is God trustworthy?

If you believe He is, then you believe that He is working out everything according to His will.

Ephesians 1:11 “In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will”

If you are follower of the Lord, it is because He has called you to Himself. When you are His, you are His forever. He has a purpose for you, seek Him, follow Him wherever He leads and you will see His purpose revealed.

It is then that you will know He is God, and His plans never fail.