What Is My Purpose?

Wrestling With Questions

I am confused. What am I supposed to do? I tried it all, and I cannot figure it out. Why can’t I get the answers I am seeking?

You cry. You settle. You may think, I guess this is my life.

God, is this it? Am I here just to be a mother? Am I not enough to have more? Excuse me, Lord, what is going on?

We Were Made to Reflect God

I grew up in a Christian home, but I did not fully understand what it meant that we were made to image God in this world.

I went to church because I had to, not because I wanted to. I remember begging my father to let my brothers and me stay home instead of spending the whole day at church. I promised myself I would never force my own children to do the same.

The irony is that God gives us choice. He allows us to choose Him and eternal life, or to reject Him and face destruction. At the time, I did not understand this. I thought being a good person and doing good deeds was enough to get into heaven. But that was a rude awakening.

It is more than just doing good things. It is bigger than me.

My mother was a baby in Christ, but she was doing what she thought was right for her family. She wanted us to be saved and to live for Jesus. I remember being upset when she pushed me to the altar to give my life to Christ.

Now I understand. Being “saved” or “born again” is a spiritual rebirth. You are no longer under eternal condemnation. You become a believer and part of the royal family of God.

My mom was planting seeds. Even though she wasn’t always saved, she had been through challenges and pitfalls. She wanted her children to have something better. She knew that if she planted seeds of faith, no matter what we went through in life, we would eventually find our way back to Jesus.

Discovering My First Purpose

The first truth about my purpose is this: I was born a female.

Genesis 1:27 (MSG) says: “God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female.”

You may think, “Okay, so I am female, and what does that mean?”

Through this series, we’ve talked about personality traits and temperaments. They help us understand who we are, but we also need to ask how we will use what God gave us.

For me, I know I was born to serve God, to love, to give, to show compassion, and to allow His light to shine through me. My life is meant to reflect Christ so others are drawn to Him. That is one of my purposes.

What Is My Purpose?

We are not here just to live and die. We are here to grow in Christ and become more Christlike. We are here to shine a light.

Have you ever heard someone’s story — a survivor of abuse, loss, or tragedy — and asked why God allowed them to go through it? Yet, when that person shares their testimony changes someone else’s life.

Pain can become purpose.

For example, rape victims may share the same struggles — loss of control, shame, fear, guilt, anger, and isolation. But when one survivor uses her story to help others, lives are saved and hope is restored.

The Bible reminds us of this truth. In the book of Esther, her divine purpose was to save her people. She faced trials, tests, and uncertainty, but God positioned her for a greater calling.

Like Esther, our experiences may not make sense at first. But God uses them to step us into our purpose.

My Own Journey of Asking Why

For years, I asked God, “Why am I on earth? What do you want from me?”

I had one foot in and one foot out of my faith walk. I became a mother at 19. I lost a baby at 20. I was in a relationship where I was cheated on. I was told I would not succeed in my career because of my writing. I was told I would never earn as much as my white counterparts. I had another baby outside of marriage. I stayed in relationships that did not fulfill me because I wanted my children to have two parents at home. I waited for marriage and was cheated on again.

I cried. I screamed. I asked over and over, “God, why?”

And yet, through all of it, He was shaping me.

If You Are Seeking Answers

If you are seeking answers like I was, remember this:

Seek and you will find them in Christ Jesus.

I kept knocking on His door until I received the answers I needed.

Here are the practices that helped me, and I believe they can help you too:

• Draw closer to God by reading His word. He speaks to us through scripture.
  

• Make room for Him by praying daily. Prayer is just conversation. Start talking.
  

• Go to church or find a church home. Surround yourself with people who will strengthen your faith.
  

• Journal. Reflect on the events of your life and write them down.
  

• Find scripture that relates to your struggles. Write them on index cards or Post-it notes and place them where you will see them.
  

Form a group to read The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren. I read it three times, and each time God revealed something new. A study group makes it even more powerful.