The Purpose We Were Made For
Why "Now What?" Never Goes Away.
If there is one question that defines this generation, it about this: purpose.
The Question Everyone Is Asking
Why am I here?
How do I discover my strengths and talents?
Can my work make a positive difference in the world?
How do I balance success, happiness, and wellbeing?
How do I stay true to my values when there is so much pressure from social media and society?
What kind of impact do I want to leave on others?
How can I find belonging and community?
What is my PURPOSE?
People look for purpose in many places. Some find it in their careers. Others in relationships, family, creativity, service, achievement, or personal growth. None of these are bad things. In fact, many of them are deeply meaningful. Yet even when we pursue them wholeheartedly, many of us still find ourselves asking: Is this all there is?
Have you ever noticed that every milestone we chase eventually becomes normal?
The university acceptance arrives.
The job offer comes through.
The relationship begins.
The goal is achieved.
Yet sooner or later another question emerges:
"Now what?"
It seems to be that no matter how much we try to find our purpose in things we once thought would satisfy us, many of us find ourselves searching again. And it tells me that maybe this void is meant to be filled with something much greater.
The Pressure of Finding Purpose
I once heard a speaker talking about a conversation he had with a boy midst a group of other youth, where they were on the topic of careers. While everyone had their own share of “good”, “fulfilling” career pursuits and dreams to share, this boy’s answer caught his eye.
He said, “I would do whatever Jesus wants me to do”.
Now, for a person who’s not spiritual at all, this might sound flimsy or just downright crazy . But even for me, a person who grew up in church, this caused something to shift in me.
What surprised me wasn't his answer itself. It was the peace behind it. While everyone else seemed anxious about finding the perfect path, he seemed free from the pressure of having to figure everything out on his own.
How could one person have this much control over a young adult’s mind and conviction? How could one person answer the truckload of questions today’s youth face? And if this was all true, how could He, fulfill my purpose?
From the time we’re brought into this world, we’re shaped by the community and the environment we grow up in. From them, come most of our thoughts of who we are- our strengths, our weaknesses, our potential and gradually even our future. But just like my previous blog on what our identity should actually be rooted in, our purpose too is quietly intertwined in this truth. That maybe our purpose isn’t something we’re to forge for ourselves. Maybe it isn’t only up to us to determine what our lives are supposed to be.
Now, me saying this neither means that we have no choice on what we want to do with our future nor that we get to hit the brakes and go with the flow. I’m just trying to reach those of you who might be at places right now, where they’re exhausted with all the baggage of navigating life at a young age, and are tired of having to do it all alone. Or if I may add, tired of making a mistake.
Well, I like to think of my life as a blueprint set, with a loving Overseer who has my best interests at heart. This blueprint tells me that the dreams I have today have its own way of leading me to my own goal, that the affections and feelings that drive me to do something great were put in intentionally, allowing me to make my choices, make mistakes, refine them- all the while walking to this destined destination.
God echoes this idea in Isaiah, where He reminds the people of Israel that they belong to Him and that He will guide them through whatever life brings.
Isaiah 43:7
Everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Pay attention to this “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.” So, if He has created us, He has His own vision of what we were made for. And whatever happens in our lives today would ultimately be for His glory.
What If Purpose Is Something We Discover?
What if purpose isn't something we invent, but something we discover?
Every worldview attempts to answer the question of purpose. Some say meaning is something we create for ourselves. Others say meaning comes from serving a greater cause. Christianity takes a different approach: it claims that purpose begins with a Person.
What if the deepest truths about who we are can only be understood by the One who made us?
Christianity offers a surprising answer to this idea.
The Author of the Story
This makes me think of life as a book, where the main character walks through seasons and chapters, using what they know to do their best, goes out of their comfort zones, tries to achieve all they thought they couldn't do, and reaches the finish line, fulfilled. And while all this is doing on, there’s the author, who sits back and watches how the main character thinks they’ve got it all on themselves, as they navigate through every unimaginable obstacle that the author knew they’d need, to be the best versions of themselves.
When the Author Entered the Story
We’re like those main characters, my friend. And God’s our Author.
He’s an incredible Author at that. He doesn’t just write a story; He writes Himself in it.
At the heart of Christianity is the belief that God didn't remain distant from human suffering and confusion. Instead, He stepped into it.
Because of His love for the imperfect characters He made, He chose to save them by leaving His splendor and sketching himself into a character that would fit into this marred world. He knew that the only way to save the human world would be to understand what humanity truly is.
So, He did just that. He came. In the form of a baby, born in a manger, grew up in the Middle East, rebuked the teachings and human traditions that crippled true relationship with God, made lasting friendships, and did what He came to do.
Save the world, by giving Himself.
He died, and He rose.
And because of that, the characters of this magnificent love story have hope.
Hope that they’re not doomed.
Hope that God didn’t leave them to figure it out by themselves.
And hope that there’s more to life here on earth.
What extraordinary love.
Which makes me go back to the story I opened with, of the boy and the speaker. It makes sense now. If there was truly someone who loved you this recklessly, and displayed it so extravagantly- wouldn’t that fill you with an unreasonable amount of confidence? That this person would stay with me through thick and thin, and I could rely on Him no matter what. And if He did so much for me, couldn’t I do the same back? If He died for me, couldn’t I live for Him?
So, What Is God's Will?
That is why whenever I question the will for my life, I get reminded of these verses:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
1 Peter 2:15
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 6:40
According to my Author, my will is not towards my career, or future prospects. My will is how I choose to live my life today. My ultimate purpose is to live as the human God has created me to be- to be grateful for the breath He has put in my lungs and to enjoy life for the gift that it is, to walk in integrity, to discipline myself and be pure (in all aspects), and to accept the gift of salvation that has been freely given to me- keeping my eyes on the heavenly destination while living my best on this earthly journey.
A Different Way to Live
With this mindset, my friends, I see life in a new lens. I don’t want to follow the crowd. The countless questions that storm every now and then, about my career path and future- all fade away when I know that the God who loves me is already on the other side. All I need to do is commit myself to Him, in all I do. And when my life doesn’t go the way, I envisioned it to go, I can trust that there’s Someone who sees that bigger picture. And that Someone always has my best interests at heart.
You might be someone who is not spiritual at all, or someone who grew up in community that was “religious” but never felt its life changing power. And maybe, reading all of this stirs something inside of you. Something that tells you - this is not it.
That there’s supposed to be more.
More to this life.
More to me.
That longing for something more points toward the purpose you were created for: to know God, walk with Him, and live for eternity.
If this is true, and you’re feeling a nudge to know more or get clarity, I’d leave you one verse that encapsulates the whole gospel message.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
So, What Is Your Purpose?
So, what is your purpose?
The world often tells us that our purpose is found in discovering ourselves, pursuing our ambitions, and climbing whatever mountain we've chosen.
But as a child of God, our deepest purpose is found in knowing Him, living for His glory, and trusting Him with the path ahead.
The second one probably doesn’t answer all your questions. But maybe it’s supposed to be that way. You’re not supposed to have it all figured out. It’s not your job; that’s God’s job.
The first one tells you that you’re in control of your future, and you have the power to change it. The second one tells you don’t have to do it alone.
When you know Him, the rest of life begins to make sense.
The greatest discovery isn't what you're meant to do. It's who you're meant to belong to.
Maybe you're convinced. Maybe you're skeptical.
Either way, I'd encourage you to consider this question:
If purpose is real, where does it come from?
Is it something we create for ourselves, or something we were created for?
For me, the answer changed everything.
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