A very dear and longtime friend stopped over the other day. “I’m down in the dumps,” she said, with tears filling her eyes. “It’s coming up on four years since my husband died.”
I nodded, feeling her pain.
“Why after all this time am I still grieving?” She asked.
I tried to be as gentle as possible when I said, “There is no time schedule for grieving or how or when to stop, if that were possible. It will be with us for the rest of our lives, but it will take on a different form from year to year.”
She sighed. “I don’t know what my purpose is,” she stated flatly, “and that bothers me, too.”
I listened and tried to comfort her. And prayed. After she left, I thought about our conversation and wrote this poem.
“What is My Purpose?”
“What is my purpose?” I asked the Lord.
“What if I told you that you are fulfilling it every day
when you come to Me and pray
and read My Word,” He replied.”
“But there is no fruit,” I said, with my head bowed.
Tenderly, He said, “Sometimes the fruit is not seen for the crowd,
but in the heart of one who belongs to Me.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, low.
“My child,” He said, “Your purpose is not based on your achievements,
or your good works or your accomplishments.
All the universe does not take notice,
but My Father sees your heart’s desire and your mind’s focus.”
“Sometimes my heart feels empty and that makes me sad.”
“Do not be sad,” He said, softly. I gave you My Holy Spirit to make you glad.”
“But then why do I still feel like I have no purpose?”
“What does purpose look like to you?” He asked. His question was direct.
It was a question I knew I could not reject.
“Purpose is seeing results for my existence,” I said.
“I tell you the truth, some results are seen in heaven instead.”
“Ah! Now I’m beginning to understand –
My primary purpose is to glorify you from my heart in this land.”
He nodded, and with His eyes, He smiled down on me.
“I too had a purpose,” He said, “the redemption of man depended on Me.
But I will not reap all the fruit until eternity.
I assure you; you have purpose on earth and
you will have purpose in heaven, as well.
So proclaim the good news, grow in your faith.
Of My saving love you must tell,
and you will see many opportunities to explore for
the purpose I have for you.”
“Thank you, Lord, now I see that I have much to do.”
“I have purpose!” I sang aloud.
O, may my praise soar beyond the clouds!
If you are struggling with thinking you do not have a purpose, bring it before the Lord and see where your conversation with God leads you. I just know you may have a purpose you never saw before. Remember: Man’s first and primary purpose is to glorify God. It says so in the Bible, “…everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.” Man’s primary purpose can be summed up in two commands: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love one another as I have loved you. (Matthew 22:37; John 13: 34) One purpose might be to show compassion to one who is grieving or has just received bad health news. I need to think out of the box – opportunities are all around to offer purpose.