3 REASONS YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR PURPOSE

I carried the angst of uncertainty for longer than I’d like to admit. Prayers for clarity remained unanswered, and I despaired of direction for years. It was exhausting. Lord, what is my purpose? What have you called me to do with my life?

…Silence.

Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you’ve carried the same burden for so long that you’re sick of talking about it, never mind the effect it has on those around you. Maybe questions have only started to surface for you. No matter where you land on the spectrum, there are three main reasons you can’t find your purpose – and they might not be what you think. But that’s ok; you’re not alone. I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to.

Reason 1: You’ve created an idol that will never satisfy.

Sometimes, good intentions turn ugly. We start with a deep desire to do something for God, to glorify him with our gifts, and to make a difference in the lives of others. Our intentions seem honorable and trustworthy. But just below the surface, our hearts have another motive, less praiseworthy than the one we tell ourselves.

It’s not easy to detect. God had to reveal mine—a self-glorifying desire for platform. I wanted to do great things for God, but ultimately, I wanted the recognition. My motives were more about me than about him. But I was blinded by pride.

Your specific motivation may be different. But the longer we remain in the dark, the more we become caught in desire. Before we know it, we are pursuing purpose instead of pursuing God. Good intentions become tainted with self, and an idol is born – the object of our genuine desire.

Although we would never claim to want anything more than God, any necessary addition is still an idol. We think we need it to be happy. We fear never finding it. In our passionate pursuit, we don’t see that God has become the means rather than the end himself.

Yet, we expect to find fulfillment in our calling. We believe we’ll find satisfaction when we realize our purpose. But God is the only One who can truly satisfy – not by giving us what we think we want, but by giving us himself. As Pastor John Piper often declares: “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.”¹ For this reason, God may graciously prevent us from attaining what we want more until we love him most.

It’s easy to fall into this category without even knowing it. It was a painful lesson for me to learn. But the sooner we grasp it, the more joy and freedom we’ll find in the true reason for our lives.

Reason 2: You’ve misunderstood the meaning of purpose.

Our purpose is not what we do; it’s why we exist. It is not a mystery or riddle waiting to be solved. It does not change with the seasons, as do many of our commitments in life. As believers, our purpose is to know God and find our joy in him.

Consider the following verses (emphasis mine):

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3).

But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD (Jeremiah 9:24).

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” (Psalm 70:4).

Exult in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice (Psalm 105:3).

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:11-12).

The Westminster Sh orter Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever.” We glorify God precisely by enjoying him forever.² We exist for intimate fellowship with our Creator, an eternal life-giving purpose. When everything around us changes, our purpose remains the same. Finding contentment in our true purpose will release greater peace and freedom to do whatever we choose to do in our lives.

Reason 3: You have confused “calling” with “assignment.”

If purpose is why we exist, then calling is what we do. But God’s divine call on our lives is not the same as a temporary assignment.

The word for calling in Scripture refers to a summons or an invitation. It is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). It refers to God’s invitation of salvation and how he brings us into that relationship with Christ.³ As believers, God has called us to the hope of salvation and to live a life worthy of this calling.⁴

Friend, we have been called to faithful discipleship.

Our calling remains the same despite our assignment, which varies with the seasons. Are you a mother caring for toddlers? Or a daughter caring for an aging parent? That is your assignment. Are you an employee surrounded by people who need the hope of Jesus? That is your assignment. Are you an entrepreneur providing a needed service? That is your assignment. Someday, our circumstances will change, but our call to bear fruit in the name of Jesus will not.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

I wish I would have understood this sooner. It would have spared loads of anxious wrestling. For years, I struggled against my assignment – my own circumstances from which I desperately wanted free. But I conflated all the terms and sank into depression. I felt lost, blind to my calling, and without purpose. So, knowing the difference can make all the difference.

If we can embrace the distinction between his calling on our lives and our temporary assignment – whether we have chosen it or not – we will walk in greater peace and joyful stability. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, but a burden will lift. And no matter the season, we will find rest for our souls.

Now What?

These terms are often used interchangeably and are most certainly intertwined. However, redefining them according to Scripture helped refine my focus and restore my joy. It lifted a weight I carried for too long, and I know it can help lift yours.

So, take these three reasons for struggling to find purpose and use them to examine your heart. Seek God in prayer. Don’t beat yourself up; allow them to become three potential keys to freedom. These keys will open our eyes to the joy of knowing God intimately as he becomes our chief aim. They unlock the door to greater peace, joy, and satisfaction. They undo the chains of misguided desire, freeing us to pursue God with all of our hearts. And they relieve us of the exhausting burden of duty to experience the delight of faithful discipleship.

God may lead you in a special assignment. He does guide his children in unique ways, but his first concern is his relationship with you. And if he has something specific in mind, you cannot miss it. Rest assured. God will see to that.