Finding Purpose

Why am I here?

We all have asked ourselves this question at one time or another. And, if you are like me, you have pondered it more than once throughout your life.

During the years I spent coaching, I had the opportunity to speak with many who struggled to identify their purpose. Most of those I had the pleasure to work with had done well in life. They had good jobs, good families, and were, by all measures, successful, yet for most, the question about purpose remained.

This week, I read an article in Fortune about Suzanne O'Brien, the author of The Good Death. Two decades ago, O'Brien, a registered nurse, chose to work in hospice care and, since then, has been at the bedside of over 1,000 people as they faced the end of their lives. As she tells it, one of the top regrets these people spoke of was "not living their purpose."

We Have The Answer

The Westminster Catechism, which was written in 1646-1647, addresses our life's purpose in the first line, which reads, "Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever."

Far from just some thoughts from theologians who penned the Catechism, this truth emanates from what we also see in Scripture.

• The prophet Isaiah tells us, "Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

• The apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church wrote, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

• Jesus, in speaking with his disciples and recorded in Matthew's gospel, said, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." 

These verses and others are clear and support the Westminster Assembly when they stated our whole reason for being is to bring God glory.

What amazes me in all of this is that God does not "need" us to bring Him glory; He is already glorified, but He created us for this special purpose and invites all of us to this incredible calling.

A Glimpse Of The End

In fact, when it is all said and done, we all, regardless of race, religion, social status, or economic strata, will glorify God. We know this from Paul's letter to the Philippians, where he wrote, "and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

And there it is, our purpose... to bring glory to THE One who made us, and we will all give testimony to it.

If you are struggling to define your purpose, like many before you have, I hope and pray that you will read these words and take comfort. Know that there is nothing more worthy.

There is nothing more life-giving and nothing more pleasing than to bring glory to the Almighty in all that we say, do, and think. When we do this, we can be assured that we are living life to its fullest!

On The Journey With You,

Carlos

This edition was first published in The Life Design Newsletter on LinkedIn.