What is the purpose of my life

Have you ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever questioned if it would have been better if you had never been born? Do you feel like you try so hard to succeed, but you don’t even know what that really means? You are not alone. Many people experience seasons — sometimes long ones — where they struggle to find direction and purpose.

Why purpose matters

We weren’t created to drift through life without meaning or direction. Our lives are meant to have meaning. Purpose shapes how we make decisions, how we handle difficulties, and how we see ourselves and others. Without purpose, we feel lost and lack direction. Purpose gives us the direction, identity, and hope we need. When we understand God’s calling for our lives, these take on an even greater weight because our lives have an eternal purpose.

What is purpose

Maybe you struggle to define what purpose in life means. Maybe you believe that purpose is about how you feel, or maybe you would say it depends on what you do. These are common definitions of purpose. Let’s unpack what these definitions mean.

Some people say life is meaningless — that the only thing that matters is how you feel. They might say, “Eat, drink, and be merry because that’s all there is,” or “Life is what it is. I can’t control anything, so I’m just going with the flow.” They sound easygoing, even appealing, but they leave a person without purpose or direction.

Other people would say that purpose is about what you do. They may say purpose is a combination of what you do well, what you enjoy, and what you value, or they may say that it is a goal. At first, these sound great — they offer direction and a sense of purpose. But they often leave people exhausted, anxious, or empty because accomplishment alone can’t produce lasting joy. Do these sound familiar?

• My purpose is to be rich.
• My purpose is to help others.
• My purpose is to have this job, own this thing, marry this person…
• My purpose is to be famous.

But beneath these definitions are two very different ways people try to live out their purpose. The first group is chasing identity through experience. The second group is chasing identity through accomplishment.

The first group believes that since life is meaningless, there is no reason to set goals. Success is measured by happiness, rather than achievement. They spend their lives looking for new ways to be happy. The problem is that nothing is ever enough. One happy experience needs to be followed by another, and another. Once the initial thrill of the moment is over, they are in search of the next experience.

The second group believes that the purpose of life is a goal. Life is what they make it. They are in control, and they are determined. They believe they can plan or plot a way to success, but too often, success is elusive. They reach one goal after another but never find purpose. They can’t succeed because the bar is constantly moving higher and higher.

Both groups are searching for purpose in places that can never fully satisfy — because we were created for something deeper, something eternal. What we are searching for is identity through a relationship with God. And until we find our identity in the One who created us, every other purpose will eventually collapse under its own weight.

What doesn’t give purpose

King Solomon is a powerful example of someone who tried both paths — identity through experience and identity through accomplishment — and found them empty.

Solomon was the king of Israel. He was known for the wisdom that God gave him. In 1 Kings chapter 4, his wisdom is compared to the sands of the seashore in verse 29, and he is described as wiser than all men in verse 31.

Let’s look at how Solomon intentionally tried both approaches to finding purpose in life.

He tried identity through experience. Solomon pursued every diversion he could find. He tried pleasure, laughter, women, and wine. He had access to musicians: singers and musicians of all sorts. He says in Ecclesiastes 2:10 “… whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; …” Anything he saw that looked good, he tried. Anything that he thought would bring him joy was his. He had access to every pleasure imaginable, yet none of them satisfied his longing for purpose. Pleasure did not bring him happiness and fulfillment.

He tried identity through accomplishment. Neither did success bring Solomon the purpose and fulfillment he desired. He was the king. He had position and fame, but it wasn’t enough. He had access to knowledge, but his wisdom and knowledge did not satisfy him. He had great wealth. Ecclesiastes 2 describes his wealth; he had houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, pools, servants, cattle, and treasure. But these were also not enough. Whatever goal he might set left him longing for more when he achieved it. Achievement did not bring him happiness and fulfillment.

Solomon had more resources than anyone today, but His conclusions are timeless. We can learn much from his example. Let’s see how he described his experience.

After all he tried to find purpose in pleasure and achievement. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 2:11 “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” He called it all vanity (empty). He said that it vexed his spirit. It not only left him feeling empty, but he also felt troubled. He goes on to say that he hated life; he hated labor, and his heart despaired. Why did he feel this way after having everything his heart desired and his mind could imagine? He felt this way because he had been living as if purpose could be found apart from God — forgetting that everything he had and everything he had come from Him (verses 24-26).

Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” Silver didn’t satisfy, nor did abundance. What a sad ending this would be for King Solomon, but his story doesn’t end here. He found hope!

What does give purpose

Solomon concludes in Ecclesiastes 12:13 that true purpose begins with God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Here in this one verse, we find our purpose, and it is twofold:

• Fear God. This means that we honour Him and trust Him. By doing so, we gain clarity for our lives.
• Follow God. This means that we submit to Him. In following God, we gain direction for our lives.

Purpose is not something we create or become; it is something we receive from God. When we fear Him and follow Him, we find our true identity which comes from the God who made us, loves us, and calls us to walk with Him.

Your life is not meaningless, and goals won’t satisfy

Just like Solomon, maybe you have tried and tried to find purpose in pleasure and achievement, but it has left you feeling empty and disheartened. The good news is you don’t have to stay that way. There is hope and purpose found in the Lord.

In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon’s focus shifts. It is no longer about him: what he can have or do. He remembers that everything is from the Lord and that every season has a purpose. He says in Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”

Solomon found that relationships would bring purpose to his life, and they will give you purpose as well.

• First, a relationship with God is the most important relationship you will ever have.
  • How to start a relationship with God – You can find more information about how to start a relationship with God by watching our “Here’s What Is Missing” video.
  • How to grow your relationship with God – Once you begin walking with Him, you can continue to grow in that relationship. You grow closer to God by reading His message to all people found in the Bible. You will also grow by praying to Him. You might say, “I don’t know how to pray.” Prayer is just talking to God like you would talk to a friend. He loves you and wants to spend time with you as you read the Bible and talk to Him.
  • What a relationship with God does – A relationship with God gives you a firm foundation for your life that doesn’t shift with every change of circumstance. Your identity is settled: you are loved, chosen, forgiven, and created for a reason. You have direction through His Word and comfort in His presence. Even everyday tasks become more meaningful because you are living for Someone greater than yourself. You are living for God.
• Second, God created us to need relationships with others. We were not meant to live our lives alone. We need the companionship and encouragement of others in both the good times and the bad.
  • What relationships with others does – Family, friends, mentors, and a church community help us grow and stay grounded. They give us someone who will encourage us spiritually and help us discover God’s purpose for our lives. Relationships give us resources, advice, and counsel on what direction we should take. They remind us that we are not alone.

You Were Made for More

Solomon’s journey shows us that purpose isn’t found in what we experience or achieve — it’s found in who we belong to. The struggle to find purpose is common. We all struggle at times in our lives to know what to do or which direction to go. You are not alone

You were not made for a purposeless existence of only fun, nor were you made to pursue goals relentlessly. Both paths promise fulfillment but leave us feeling empty and alone, which is the opposite of what we need. We were created for relationship, specifically a relationship with God. Our deepest purpose is found in knowing and following God. When we walk with Him, we understand that life is not a series of meaningless, random circumstances because every season has a purpose, every moment has meaning, and every step has direction.

If you are searching to find your purpose, you can find it. You don’t need to give up or be discouraged. The best place to start is with the One who made you. He knows you, loves you, and has a plan for your life that is greater than anything you could experience or achieve.

How to begin

• Listen to the stories of others who have found hope.
  • Watch the “Here’s What Is Missing” video
  • Explore the stories of others who have found hope, peace, and purpose.
• Reflect on your own story. When we slow down and pay attention to what is happening in our hearts, we take an important step toward finding our purpose. These questions may help:
  • What experiences have I turned to for purpose in
  • What achievements have I reached, only to find myself still searching?
  • What am I truly longing for?
• Explore the Bible for yourself
  • The Gospel of John is a great place to start. It introduces who Jesus is and why He came.
  • Read a little at a time, and let God guide you toward comfort, direction, and hope.
• Talk to God honestly.
  • Remember, prayer is simply talking to God the way you would talk to a friend.
  • You can ask God to help you find what you are searching for.
• Connect with someone who can help you
  • Visit a Bible-teaching church where you can learn and ask questions.
  • Send us a message if you would like someone to help you understand the hope, peace, and purpose that comes from God.
• Take one small step
  • Finding your purpose isn’t about having all the answers right away. It’s about taking the next right step. As you seek God, He will guide you.