Pondering Purpose

Recently, I’ve been pondering the meaning of life, and the meaning of existence. It seems so pointless at times. I go to school day after day, pursuing higher education for the sake of education, and eventually I may get a job. I don’t know what the future holds, and I really have no idea what I am going to do with my life.
I have only ever wanted to get married and have children, but recently I have questioned even that. Even if I were to do that, I would want to do something else with my life as well. But the routine of life gets old. One day, will I decide I am sick of caring for my children, and that I’ve had enough? I hope not, but right now I’m so sick of where I am and ready for something new, I’m not sure. It seems that once I get really used to where I am and what I am doing, I become sick of it and long for something different.
I got downright depressed, pondering the future and wondering how sick of life I’ll be when I’m older. It wasn’t until I turned to the Scripture, looking for verses on our purpose, that I got it.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:1). God created us to do His good works.
“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:6-7). He created us for His glory.
“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O lord; they will bring glory to your name” (Psalm 86:9).
“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever” (Psalm 86:12).
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).
“Make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:4).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). He also wants us to spread His word to all people. No matter what else I do in life, I am called to witness, and I can do it no matter what else is going on in my life.
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:4-8).
“On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it” (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). God will show me what He wants me to do, and it will be my particular gift, not someone else’s.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). He wants us to have life, He wants us to have abundant life, and He wants us to have joy in Him. He has riches in store for us that we can’t even imagine, but we have to pick up our cross and follow Him. When that gets overwhelming, we have 2 Corinthians 12:9a: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
God spoke to me through these passages, and gave me renewed hope and purpose. Now I no longer worry about how I will feel in twenty, thirty, or forty years. Why waste time and energy on such ponderings? Instead, I focus on each day He has given me, and do my best to bring glory to His name, witness to those whom I encounter, and discover what He would have me do in order to use my gifts for Him. I pray that He will do the same for you.