What’s Your Purpose?

So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth.

Genesis 1:27–28 (CEV)

Maybe you’ve known what you want to do with your life since you were a kid. Maybe your parents want you to do something they like. Maybe others have said you’d be good at something. Maybe you have no idea. (That’s okay, too!)

Make more money, be in charge of people, be super famous . . . none of these aspirations will ultimately satisfy. The thing that stirs the deepest passion is doing what the Lord created you to do.

When God gave you the breath of life, he designed you with ideas, desires, and abilities to take a specific, important part in caring for this world. That might mean several different jobs over your lifetime. It also means caring for your neighbor and neighborhood now.

Instead of getting too caught up in the pressure of figuring out the rest of your life or your future career, take a moment to think about your life right now. Read today’s Scripture passage again and brainstorm ideas of how you can do God’s work.

Throughout the Bible, God used young people (yes, even teenagers!) to make big changes in the world. He can use you, too!

SPIRITUAL FITNESS TRAINING

Work through the training below to discover ways God can use you to make the world a better place. Review the list to determine things that interest you. Then consider trying the corresponding activity or think of your own creative way to help. Bonus: Ask your school counselor how you can track your volunteer hours. Doing so will help you as you plan your future, like when applying to college or for a new job.

• DOG, CATS, AND OTHER ANIMALS: Call your local animal shelter and ask if you can volunteer at a pet adoption event.
• FLOWERS AND GARDENS; Find out if your town or a neighboring town has a community garden. Volunteer for one Saturday to pull up weeds and water dry plants.
• OCEANS, LAKES, AND RIVERS: Grab a big garbage bag and a pair of gloves. Go to a local body of water and pick up any litter scattered around the edge of the water.
• CHILDREN: Find out if any elementary age kids in your neighborhood could use special help in a subject you are good at. Offer to tutor them for one hour a week (which can be as simple as helping them with their homework).
• OLDER PEOPLE: Call a local nursing home and ask if they have volunteer opportunities for teenagers. Elderly people can get lonely, so it means a lot when someone spends time with them doing things like playing checkers or reading a book to them.

INSPIRATION

“. . .Our work can be a calling only if it is reimagined as a mission of service to something beyond merely our own interests. Thinking of work mainly as a means of self-fulfillment and self-realization slowly crushes a person.”

—Timothy Keller, American author and pastor in New York City

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help you expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 8:3–5

Psalm 8:6–9

Micah 6:8

Matthew 28:19–20