Purpose
Our sense of purpose is deeply intertwined with how God shapes our understanding through our actual lived lives. Purpose isn't a linear trajectory, but a dynamic relationship with God's ongoing work. This year likely revealed layers of your calling that you might not have recognized in the moment, and that is why we want to spend some time on the final days of the year reflecting on how we sensed God worked in us and through us.
Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Consider how your skills, passions, and life circumstances intersected to create meaningful impact. Maybe you discovered unexpected ways to serve – through patience during challenging times, by offering support when someone needed it most, or by using talents you previously undervalued. Spiritual purpose often emerges in the subtle space between intention and action. The conversations that felt divinely guided, the moments of unexpected connection, the skills you developed that seemed random but later proved significant.
Your unique combination of experiences, challenges, and gifts creates a distinctive pathway of service. Reflection reveals how God works through our imperfections. The times you felt least capable might have been precisely where divine strength was most evident. Your limitations aren't obstacles, but opportunities for grace to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary encounters. Pay attention to the patterns. Where did you often feel energized? What needs around you stirred something deep inside you?
Purpose isn't about grand gestures, but about faithful engagement with the opportunities directly in front of you. Your experiences this year – the victories, the struggles, the unexpected turns – are all part of a deeper formation. Each interaction, each challenge, each moment of joy represents a potential point of connection between your individual journey and God's broader redemptive work. Ultimately, purpose is about responsiveness – staying open, remaining humble, and recognizing that your most significant contributions often emerge when you least expect them.
Now, take some time to reflect on how you sensed God working in and through you for the benefit and good of others. Think of the questions below as prompts to get you started. Don’t feel the pressure to answer every one, but challenge yourself to carve out space to reflect on the clarity you’ve gained around God’s purpose for your life over the past year:
Consider a moment when your natural abilities intersected with a genuine need around you. How did this experience illuminate the unique way God might be using your specific gifts?
Where did you feel most alive and aligned this year? Where did you notice small, seemingly insignificant acts creating meaningful ripple effects?
What specific elements of those experiences suggest God's intentional shaping of your path? How might these moments represent your unique calling?
If you could distill the spiritual lessons of this year into a single insight about your purpose, what would it be? How does this insight challenge or confirm your previous understanding?
After reflecting on these questions, close your time by writing out a prayer offering your actual lived life to God, and a willingness to display faith, trust, and obedience in the present moment.