Why Am I Here? Discovering God’s Purpose for Your Life

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I here?”

Not just here in this moment, or here in this city, or here in this career. But why am I here at all?

It’s one of the most human questions we can ask. And it often sneaks in during transitions, struggles, or seasons of restlessness. We all want to know if there is a reason for our lives, if we really matter, if there’s more to our story than just working, eating, sleeping, and doing it all over again.

The good news is that Scripture does not leave us guessing. It tells us we were made on purpose, for a purpose. Psalm 139:14 (ESV) says:

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Ephesians 2 tells us we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

Which means you and I are not accidents. We are part of God’s design. God made you wonderfully. And He made you for something.

You Are Designed by God

Think about the care that goes into design. An architect studies every angle. A craftsman shapes each detail. A parent might even spend hours assembling the perfect gift for their child (been there).

That’s how God made you. You are not mass-produced. You are handcrafted. Every gift, every talent, every skill, and yes, even your weaknesses, they’re all part of His intentional design.

This means that who you are is not a mistake. Your personality, your passions, your quirks, your story - all of it was woven together by the hand of God. And if He took that much care in making you, we can trust He has a purpose for how He wants to use you.

You Are Created for Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) reminds us:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

That word workmanship literally means “masterpiece.” You are God’s art, His unique creation. And you weren’t just made for existence: you were made for a mission.

Those “good works” are not limited to full-time ministry. They include acts of love, service, kindness, generosity, encouragement, and faithfulness that reflect Christ in everyday life. God already has those opportunities prepared, and you simply need to walk in them.

This shifts our mindset. We don’t have to spend our lives frantically searching for meaning. God already built it into us. Our role is to live faithfully and walk in the path He sets before us.

Your Purpose May Look Different Than You Expect

Sometimes we think purpose has to be big, dramatic, or public. But God often delights in using ordinary people in ordinary places for extraordinary good.

Your purpose may look like raising children who love God. Or serving faithfully in your church behind the scenes. Or being a steady encourager to a coworker who’s struggling. Or using your business, your hobby, or your leadership to point people to Christ.

Think about the boy with the five loaves and two fish (John 6). What he had looked small, even insignificant, compared to the need. But in the hands of Jesus, it became more than enough.

Don’t miss your calling because you’re waiting for something glamorous. Often, your greatest impact will come through the daily faithfulness of using what you already have for God’s glory.

God Uses Our Weaknesses Too

If you feel unqualified, that might be the very reason God can use you.

Moses stuttered. David was overlooked. Paul called himself the “chief of sinners.” Yet God used them all in ways they never could have imagined.

Your weaknesses don’t disqualify you. They remind you that the power is God’s, not yours. Sometimes your greatest ministry comes not from your strengths, but from your scars. From the hard places God has brought you through that now allow you to walk with others in their struggles.

As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV):

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Purpose Is Discovered in Obedience

Here’s the truth: you don’t have to know your full life purpose today. You discover it as you walk in daily obedience.

Purpose isn’t a one-time revelation - it’s a lifelong journey. Each step of faith, each act of service, each moment of obedience moves you further into the life God designed you to live.

Instead of asking, “What is my purpose for the next 30 years?” maybe the better question is, “What is the next step of faithfulness I can take today?”

So Let Me Ask You (as I ask myself):

• Do I really believe that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made,” or do I downplay the way God created me?

• Am I walking in the good works God prepared for me, or am I sitting on the sidelines?

• Have I been waiting for a “big purpose” while missing the daily opportunities to serve?

• Where might God want to use even my weaknesses for His glory?

• How can I encourage someone else this week to see their God-given worth and calling?

A Closing Encouragement

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need a five-year plan to know your purpose. Start here: you are God’s workmanship. He made you wonderfully. He saved you by grace. And He has good works already waiting for you to walk in.

So take the next step. Serve. Encourage. Love. Share. Walk in what God prepared for you.

Because when we step into the purpose He designed for us, we find joy, meaning, and life that no one can take away.

Until the journey is complete,

Jonathan Pilgrim

P.S. This week, take one small step into the purpose God has given you. Call someone who needs encouragement. Volunteer to serve in your local congregation. Use one of your gifts for His glory. You don’t have to do everything; you just have to do the next thing He puts in front of you.