YOUR PERSONAL PURPOSE IN LIFE

Discovering your purpose is next to impossible - or is it?

I have been a practicing believer for four decades, striving to be obedient (though not perfectly) and constantly hunting for that elusive “sure knowing” of who I was and what God meant me to do on earth.

The quest for your purpose begins with obedience

This pursuit led me to desire many wrong things. It also made me fearful of doing anything major that might turn out to be different from what God wanted for me. Honestly, it was chaos in my mind. And I know I’m not alone in this. I see an epidemic of purposelessness among God’s children.

For years, I thought achieving some measure of worldly success would fulfil God’s purpose for me. I tried to make a lot of money, but every attempt failed. I assumed that if I could just earn enough, I could help the poor, fund ministries, and validate my life through afterthought acts of kindness. But deep down, the money itself was my measure of success — and my true motive.

Of course, this assumption was wrong. I know there have been more spiritual and godly men and women who walked this earth knowing nothing but persecution and “failure” in the world’s eyes, yet they lived in complete obedience to God’s voice.

By the grace and mercy of God, He painstakingly brought me to a clear realisation — a revelation I wish I had known sooner: I must first live for His glory, and everything else will align in due time.

Why, Lord, did it take me until middle age to comprehend this?

I had been chasing after the big things, convinced that was how I would please Him. When those big things didn’t happen, I misinterpreted it as a lack of love from God — as if He wasn’t honouring or acknowledging my efforts to fulfil His purpose for my life.

The Myth of the “Big Reveal”

Most of us imagine God’s purpose for our life will unfold in one grand breakthrough, success, or victory. But it’s rarely that way. Yes, all of God’s purposes are BIG in the spirit realm, but some may look very ordinary in the physical realm. This does not diminish the value of your life.

God’s thoughts and ways are not ours. He is higher, therefore He knows better.

Take Billy Graham, for example — America’s Pastor, whose ministry reached the entire world. Even after his death, the work he started still continues. His ministry was undeniably high-impact.

But the value of Billy Graham’s life is not superior to the value of an unknown missionary who died faithfully serving in a remote village. That missionary’s ministry was equally important in the Kingdom. His work had the same worth to the Father. Only God knows how He assigns each calling.

Living the Purpose You Already Have

If we truly want to know what He desires for us, we must live our lives honouring Him and obeying His Word. The Bible contains more than enough commands and principles to keep us busy obeying for a lifetime.

It is in the daily grind — the disciplines, the surrender, the cross-bearing — that we come to know Him, His love, and His purpose for us. This is the most reliable way to discover His will for our lives.

If you’re a nurse right now, be the most godly nurse you can be. If you’re a stay-at-home mum, your household is your mission field — love your family and live a godly life before them.

As long as we are diligent in the disciplines of our faith and faithful in the practical duties of life, He will continue to form us, mould us, and prepare us for His plans. And perhaps, what you are already doing is your calling — which makes it all the more important to be faithful in it.

The Simple Truth That Changes Everything

May the Holy Spirit illuminate our minds and help us grasp this simple yet profound truth. I am eternally grateful that He did this for me, and I know I must share it.

Sister in the Lord, hear me: Do not fret if you haven’t yet fully grasped what God wants you to be or do. It’s okay to wait on Him for specifics. But what you cannot postpone is living your life in obedience to His Word.

This means becoming deeply familiar with the Bible. The Bible reveals God’s mind and heart. The more you know it, the more you will understand His character, His ways, and His will.

That is the first step to discovering your purpose — living a life of obedience. The Holy Spirit will guide, convict, and teach you.

Why Obedience Comes Before Assignment

Recognising God’s voice puts you in the best position to receive His specific instructions. But it doesn’t stop there. The next step is taking action and obeying those instructions.

I often hear, “But sis, I don’t know how to hear His voice.”

That’s exactly why this is a process and not a one-time event. We must first learn to obey Him in the general things — holy living, spiritual disciplines, and delighting in Him. As we submit to this process, we grow in our ability to hear Him clearly.

Why does God train us to hear His voice first? To protect us from deception. The enemy knows God’s people are on assignment and will try to hijack it so we miss our destiny. Jesus said the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy — and the full weight of that attack is aimed at God’s image-bearers.

His sheep know His voice. That’s not automatic; it’s a skill we develop.

Final Word

Before you can hope to discover your calling, assignment, or purpose, you must first learn obedience. In obedience, we develop the ability to hear, recognise, and follow His voice so that when it’s time to step into our destiny, we will not be deceived by other voices.

In short — grow first into a sheep who knows the voice of the Master.

For everyone who comes to this website, welcome to Flourishing Faith. This is your home. You belong here. Welcome home.