What’s Your Purpose?

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

Do you remember this verse? Esther had been made queen, really against her will. After Queen Vashti was deposed (which is a story in itself), the king called for a beauty pageant to select a new queen. Like so many other young women, Esther was gathered up to be one of the women.

But Esther was different. This sweet orphan girl listened to her cousin Mordecai who was raising her. She found favor with the men running the beauty pageant, and she ultimately found favor with the King. She was elevated to the position of Queen.

All was well until the enemy of the Jews, Haman, managed to trick the king into signing an edict to allow the Jews to be attacked and killed. Mordecai approached his cousin, Queen Esther, and reminded her of her roots and that she would not be spared from the edict. He closed his conversation by reminding her that perhaps God had allowed her to be the queen for such a time as this.

God ordained her for a purpose. His purpose. 

Scripture teaches us that we were all created us for a purpose. We aren’t here by accident; He has specific plans for each of us.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

We all have a general purpose, to know God, love God, glorify God. Our job is to allow our lives to reflect His light back to Him and to all the world. We should be loving our neighbors with a love that points the world back to God. We should be seeking to be conformed to His image, to become more like Him while here on this earth.

But, we also have a specific purpose. God ordained our days, our lives, for something specific. He gives us each spiritual gifts, some to lead, some to prophecy, some to teach, some to preach, some to encourage. We are each designed to fit into the body of Christ, into the Church, to fulfill a purpose.

Some of us are called to full-time ministry. We know there’s a burning desire in our hearts to do more, to serve differently. Some are called to the pastorate. Some are called to the mission field. Some are called to youth ministry.

All of us are called to use the experiences in our lives to point the world back to Him. Have you ever considered that? Just as Esther’s experiences were used for a purpose, so are ours. Maybe it’s a divorce that we use to guide others to a place of healing and hope. Maybe it’s an addiction that we use to proclaim God has power over even the strongest substance. Maybe it’s a journey through infertility that allows you to reach others in the midst of their grief. Maybe it’s the loss of a child that allows you to minister to others whose arms are empty. Whatever circumstances this life throws at you can be used as a platform to do God’s will.

What does living with purpose do for you?

Living in your purpose energizes. Have you ever done something and then just walked away with so much energy and joy? For me, sharing my story, sharing the love of Christ, just changes my entire demeanor. I walk away with a newfound mentality.

I love when I have an opportunity–expected or unexpected–to tell about God’s faithfulness in the midst of my hardest days. I love when I can rehearse His goodness in my darkest days. I love when I get to interact with someone who can be encouraged by God’s work in my life.

Living in your purpose fulfills. Do you ever feel empty? Like there has to be more to this life? When you live in your purpose, you find fulfillment and meaning.

When I am actively sharing my story, helping others overcome the pain of adultery and divorce, my joy simply overflows. I feel so complete! It is the power of living in purpose.

Living in your purpose draws you closer to God. Do you ever feel like you are in a spiritual desert? Do you fell dry and parched? Does your time with God feel dull and boring? Find your purpose. Living in your purpose helps you rehearse His faithfulness. It reminds you of all the ways He has been faithful. It helps you reflect on His goodness in your life. When we do all those things, we find a spiritual intimacy that is unmatched. We get to experience all the fullness of God’s grace.

Living in your purpose puts you in a place to see God at work around you. If you have never completed the Experiencing God Bible study, I encourage you to pick up a copy and go through it. One of the key components of the study is that we should be mindful of where God is working and join Him. That’s when we get to experience God!

When we know our purpose and are actively pursuing that purpose, our eyes are opened to God’s work around us. We get to join Him where He is working rather than trying to manufacture His work. When we join Him where He is already active, we get to see Him move in miraculous ways. It’s a domino effect that starts with seeking His purpose in our lives.

If you are walking through a painful circumstance, consider how it can be used to create purpose in your life. God never wastes a trial but uses them to give us purpose.