READ THIS IF YOU WANT TO DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE?

Have you ever wanted to discover what your purpose is? Every human being was created to solve a problem that exists here on earth. Sadly, not many people get to fulfill their purposes. The reason could be they do not know what their purpose is. Or maybe the fear of people and failure could be holding them back. Other times it could be that because of the status quo and trying to fit in we all end up doing the same thing as the other person because culture says it is okay. The thing about culture is that it is dynamic and because of that, you and I cannot rely on it. In fact, it changes so fast that at times it’s hard to keep up.

But you don’t have to live pleasing others. There is something inside you that can help the world become a better place. Your purpose is needed, and it is time for you to discover your purpose. You don’t have to wait a minute longer. Before you discover your purpose, it is important that you silence the noise and still your soul. And if you want to know how you can do that, then keep on reading.

How then, can you silence the noise and discover your purpose within and in Christ?

The first thing you always need to do is to seek the One who created you because He obviously knows best. It’s clear that when you don’t stand up for something, you will fall for anything and unless you know who you really are, you can never know your why. The only way you can discover your purpose is by having a relationship with God. Your purpose is embedded in the core of who you are and that can only be found in your relationship with God. Let me ask you this, have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If yes, wonderful and if the answer is no, then take this time to invite Him to be your Lord and Savior by confessing your sins, then asking Him to forgive you of your sins and allow Him to dwell in you.

Having Jesus at the center of your life gives Him the right to be the author of your life. He will guide you and lead you through the path you need to follow. In Psalm 139:16, He says that He wrote all the days of your life before you were formed, and He knows every aspect of who you are. So it is no surprise that He also put inside you your why and the more you intentionally choose to spend time with Him, the more your purpose unravels and becomes clear. If you are having a hard time figuring out what your why is, start with the one you know.

¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:16-18)

• What are you good at?
• Do you have skills that come naturally to you that others struggle with?
• What irks you?
• What kind of injustices make your blood boil?
• Have you discovered your passions?

Asking yourself these kinds of questions will get you close to your purpose. This is because whenever you find that a certain problem bothers you, maybe God has called you to solve it. All the inventions created by man came first as a problem that needed solving. If they did not work on solving the problem, some inventions we so use today like Google, airplanes, and Microsoft would not be there. Could it be that you are harboring a life-changing idea? What are you going to do about it?

As we talk about purpose today, I would be wrong if I did not point out that you and I should strive to maximize our potential. Can you honestly say that you are living up1 to your full potential? Are there areas that you are slacking in? Could you do better than what you are currently doing? Jesus wants us to be the best that we can ever be and that is why He says that every tree that bears fruit He prunes so that it can bear even more fruit.

When you discover your purpose, you will want to maximize your full potential because you enjoy what you do. And the other thing about discovering your purpose is that you will get to find yourself, too.

As we talk about purpose, let us look at the story of Jonah.

Just to give a summary, God gave Jonah an assignment to go to Nineveh and preach to them. Jonah disobeyed and went to Tarshish instead. He went to a port in Joppa and found a ship that was headed to Tarshish. While he was in the boat God sent a tremendous storm at sea. It was so bad that the people on the boat started calling on their gods and throwing excess luggage into the sea. Jonah, however, was asleep and when the people found him asleep, they could not understand.

Long story short, Jonah told them that the storm was his fault. And for it to subside, they would have to throw him to the sea as well. Initially, they were reluctant to. But after a while, they agreed and threw him to the sea. True to his word, the storm subsided. God instructed a whale to swallow Jonah, and he stayed there for 3 days and 3 nights. Once he repented and accepted God’s assignment, God had the whale vomit, Jonah. And this time, he followed God’s will and went to Tarshish. Through his preaching, he could turn an entire nation around. This led to one of the greatest revivals in history.

What am I getting at with this story?

When God has a purpose for you, He will ensure that you fulfill it especially if it involves a multitude of people, like in Jonah’s case. Because when he later obeyed and went to Nineveh and preached to them, they all repented, turned to God, and God forgave them.

Sometimes the reason your life is the way it is could be that you are yet to discover your purpose. And because of that, God is making you uncomfortable so that you can do what He created you for. God wants you to reach your full potential. This is because there are people tied to your obedience. Child of God, God wants you to reveal an aspect of who He is to the world. God created you in His likeness and image. He placed an aspect of Himself inside you. And this is what will turn people back to Him. When you discover your purpose, you become your authentic self, and it is your authenticity that will draw people to God.

3 Things to note for when you discover your purpose.

The assignment and purpose are within you.

Maybe Jonah did not think he had it within himself to preach to a whole nation or maybe he did, who knows! However, one clear thing is that God knew he was the best candidate for the job because although he did not want to do it, he still got people to turn to God. Do not fear your purpose because when God calls you, He will definitely equip you for it. Whether big or small, God has called you to do something and I think it is time that we all took it upon ourselves to fulfill our callings and purposes given to us by God.

You know oftentimes we forget that God is the One who strengthens us to fulfill our purpose. It has nothing to do with our capabilities and drive though they are needed. But it has everything to do with His strength. And you know the vesta part? Your I abilities will allow His strength to help YOU. Because it is in your weakness that you can experience His strength. So do not allow the enemy to lie to you and get you to forfeit your purpose. What God has called you to do, HE will help you sustain it. That’s how beautiful our God is. He does not want you to do it on your own. He wants you to partner with Him. All God wants is your partnership. He wants to work in and through you.

You will always feel discontented until you discover your purpose.

Again, I have to reiterate that your purpose does not have to be a major thing that involves you changing your career. It could be in the same career path you are on right now. And also it does not have to be in the pulpit. God will have you discover your purpose and fulfill it, right where you are. In Jonah’s case, God sent a storm that caused discomfort and led to Jonah’s redirection. Could it be the storm that you are currently facing is a result of disobeying God’s call?

Often, we blame the enemy for our storms. This however is not always the case. And that is God’s mercy getting us back on track. Our God is merciful and wants us to walk in alignment with Him. It is when we are in alignment that His protection becomes our shield. When you are in His will, you can trust that He will hide you under the shadow of His wings.

Had Jonah obeyed, he would not have gone through a storm, got swallowed by a whale, and stayed there for 3 days. Delayed obedience is disobedience. What last instruction did God give you? Have you done it? We know God has the ability to close every other door so that He can have you focusing on the one He wants you to. Maybe the only way you will get out of the storm is through obedience. Have you considered that?

God will give you chance after chance until you discover your purpose and fulfill it.

One way we can look at the storm is as an opportunity. God will send opportunity after opportunity to have you get to your assignment. Do you know the opportunities God is sending your way to get you to fulfill your assignment? Stop being stubborn and yield to His ways. It might not look like it now, but His ways will get you down a path that will bring fulfillment and get you to maximize your potential.

You will find your purpose in your deepest struggle

Since the beginning of time, the enemy has always contradicted God. And it is no secret that he will contradict your purpose, too. One of the easiest ways to know what God has called you to is to look at the area you struggle the most in. Most often, the people who struggle with shame and guilt are called to help others find deliverance too. So the enemy will use that shame to get you stuck and keep you bound. He knows that when you are free, you will help others find their freedom, too. Also, if you are called to be a kingdom financier, the enemy will have you stuck in poverty or barely surviving. Therefore, it is important for you to discover your purpose. When you do, you will know how to step into your breakthrough.

In what areas are you struggling? Sometimes it could be that the enemy is trying to convince you that you are shy and cannot do what God has called you to do. The enemy might even tell you that where you are is all you will ever be. First of all, that is not all you are. There is so much more within you and God wants to introduce you to your true self. Your current situation is not your ultimate destination. God has so much in store for you. This is why God wants you to discover your purpose and fulfill it. Don’t give up or quit on God. Hold on even when everything around you contradicts your future and trust that God will help you get to the other side.

Conclusion

God created you with a purpose in His mind. You are not a mistake. It is time for you to step into your purpose and be all that God created you to be. It is not too late and when you say yes God will redirect your path and get you to the path He had for you all along. Just say yes and do not wait for storms to come your way so that you can finally obey! When you discover your purpose, you will live in ultimate freedom because you will enjoy what you do.

God did not create you to live a life of misery. He wants you to live your best life because that is how you will draw people to Him. After all, people are drawn to those that are living in their authenticity. I am not saying that everything will be perfect or that you will never go through difficult times. What I am saying is, when you discover your purpose, you will not view what you do as work.