Pray Big ThingsSample

Knowing Your Purpose in God’s Plans for You

While God has many callings and commands that apply to everyone, He also has unique purposes for each of us that are to be discovered. God gives you your dreams, talents, and desires, which means He not only has a great plan for your life but also has equipped you with the personality, talent, and interests you need in order to accomplish this plan. 

What are the things you are passionate about? What problems or causes stir your heart when you read about them? What you want for your life right now may not be bad, evil, or sinful. Maybe what you want is even in the plan for what God has for you. But it’s not what God has given you yet. And this thing is keeping you stuck, miserable, and ineffective.

I remember being introduced to a whole subgroup of married adults who were struggling with infertility. I had no clue how many struggle with infertility for years, sometimes resulting in the end of their relationship. I also was interested in the different responses of couples who were struggling. Some seemed to have purpose outside of trying to get pregnant. They still served in church. They still had fun as a couple. They still were actively working toward kingdom purposes. But other couples could talk about little else besides trying to get pregnant. The topic consumed their conversations. The struggle took over their entire lives.

This trap is not just for people desiring children. Many singles talk about little else besides wanting to be in a relationship, and many business people talk about little besides their next deal. While there is nothing wrong with these dreams, they keep many people stuck in their struggles instead of figuring out what God has for them today. 

I once heard a great quote about balancing our desires with God’s plan: “God knows what we need, so if we don’t have something, it’s ultimately because we don’t need it yet.” God hasn’t accidentally put us in our current situation. He has a purpose, and He has a plan. We can trust that He made us in such a way that our desires and talents will be used to bring about His intended purposes for us and for His glory.

What brings you joy and a sense of fulfillment? How might this reflect the dreams God is giving you for your life?