Updated: Aug 5
Have you ever wondered what your purpose is? What on earth are you here for? These questions are fundamental to our existence, yet many people struggle to answer them with clarity and conviction.
What Does It Mean to Live with Purpose?
Purpose is what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's the driving force behind your actions and decisions. As Dr. Guy McGraw notes, "All successful people have a clear purpose in life. They have a compelling reason to get out of bed in the morning."
Without clear purpose, no one can be considered truly successful, regardless of worldly fame or achievements. Purpose isn't about accumulating wealth or status—it's about making a meaningful difference in the world around you.
How Can I Identify My Purpose in Life?
The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 provides powerful insights into discovering and living out your purpose. Joseph's journey from favored son to slave to prisoner to Egyptian leader illustrates how God works through our circumstances—even painful ones—to fulfill His greater purpose.
Purpose can be discovered in several ways:
When a latent desire for something better awakens within you
Under the guidance of a mentor
Through inspiration from someone whose significance sparks your imagination
Through divine inspiration from God
What Are the Key Characteristics of Purpose-Driven Living?
Living with purpose isn't accidental. It has distinct characteristics:
Purpose is intellectual - Purpose-driven plans are well thought out. People with true purpose don't operate haphazardly; they strategically cover every base required to make an impact. They're SMART: Specific in design, Measurable in success, Achievable in scope, Relevant in society, and Timely in execution.
Purpose is intentional - Purposeful living doesn't happen by accident. People with purpose mean to make a difference. They consider desired outcomes in every phase of the process.
Purpose is intense - The pursuit of purpose can be time-consuming, frustrating, and difficult. It tests patience and faith. But Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Purpose is intimate - Passion for your purpose pushes you to see it through, regardless of obstacles. As the saying goes, "If you love what you're doing, you never work a day in your life." You must love what you're doing AND who you're doing it for.
How Does God Work Through Our Purpose?
Joseph's story in Genesis 50:20 reveals three powerful truths about how God works through our purpose:
1. When You Have Purpose, God Gives You Grace for Uncomfortable Moments
Joseph faced numerous uncomfortable moments: being sold into slavery by his own brothers, being falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, being forgotten in prison. Yet through it all, God gave him grace to endure.
You may face setbacks, betrayals, and false accusations on your journey of purpose. People may hate you before you even accomplish anything. But God will give you grace for those uncomfortable moments.
2. When You Have Purpose, God Gives You Goodness for Unconditional Modifications
Joseph recognized that what his brothers "meant for evil, God meant for good." Sometimes our plans need divine modification. God makes adjustments to our circumstances—not because we ask Him to, but because He knows what's needed for our purpose to be fulfilled.
These modifications are unconditional and unalterable. God knows when and how to make them because He wants you to be purposeful.
3. When You Have Purpose, God Gives You Greatness for Uncompromised Manifestation
When you walk in your purpose, God makes you great in an uncompromising way. No one can touch it or stop it when God is fully in it. You might lose two clients, but you'll gain twelve new ones because "God is faithful to the faithful."
Joseph's greatness wasn't just for himself—it was to "save many people alive." True purpose always extends beyond ourselves to impact others.
What Can We Learn from Jesus About Living with Purpose?
Jesus is our ultimate example of purpose-driven living. He declared His purpose clearly: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
Jesus was so filled with purpose that:
A woman with an issue of blood was healed by touching His garment
Thousands were fed with just two fish and five loaves
The blind received sight
Lepers were cleansed
Yet His ultimate purpose wasn't just healing or feeding—it was saving the world from sin. Sometimes purpose involves sacrifice, as Jesus demonstrated on the cross. He died on purpose and with purpose.
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to get clear about your purpose. Ask yourself these questions:
If someone woke me up at 3:00 AM and asked what my purpose is, could I clearly define it?
Am I living intentionally toward that purpose, or am I drifting through life?
In my relationship with God, who gets more out of it—me or Him?
What modifications might God be making in my life right now to align me with His purpose?
How can my purpose extend beyond myself to impact others positively?
Make it part of your prayer life to ask God to help you fulfill your purpose. When you do, you'll discover that even when others mean things for evil against you, God will use them for good—not just for your benefit, but for the benefit of many others as well.
Remember: Give God what He wants out of you, and you can expect God to give you what you want out of Him. Live on purpose, for His glory and for the good of others.
