Sometimes life feels like a void: uninteresting, perhaps pointless, or a boring cycle of wake, school, sleep. Like a viral reel that plays on repeat. 

You want to live for more, do more, be more. But how? When? Where? 

I’ve been there. And in a season of wrestling, I discovered that purpose is found right where I am — whether at my desk, running at the gym, or dragging mounds of stinky T-shirts to the laundromat. 

Living with purpose is available. And it starts with discovering the ultimate purpose of humanity as revealed in the sacred pages of the Bible. 

The Purpose of Humanity

Genesis 1 is an epic story describing the creation of the world. God spoke — and boom! Everything in the world was created (Genesis 1:1-25, John 1:1-2). 

In this epic story, God created humanity differently than all other creatures; we are all made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). God formed man and woman with His hands to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28, NIV).  

In other words, to be made in God’s image means you are made with powerful purpose unlike all other creatures. God created us to extend His care to the world, to live out His purpose — caring, creating, and ruling. 

But sin messed things up, big time. Like in the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), humans try to create and live for different purposes rather than God’s ultimate purpose: to be in relationship with Him and to live out His mission in the world. 

So, what can you do to reclaim your divinely given purpose? 

How To Live Out Your God-Given Purpose

1. Your purpose starts with your relationship with God.

When you live for yourself, your own purpose, you will always end up at a dead end. To be all you were created to be, it starts by living in a relationship with God through surrendered faith in Jesus. 

Read the short description of the gospel below and take a moment to confess your faith in Jesus through prayer:  

I believe that I am a sinner because I do not always do things God’s perfect way in what I think, do, and say (Romans 3:23). I believe my sin separates me from God and if not forgiven, I will be eternally separated from God (Revelation 20:11-15). I believe Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, fully God and fully man (Matthew 1:23, John 1:14). I believe Jesus lived a perfect life to become the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin, available for all who turn to Him in faith (John 3:16, Hebrews 10:10). I believe Jesus is coming back to judge all of humanity and through faith in Him, I am forgiven of my sin and will be with Him forever (Isaiah 1:18, Romans 10:9). 

2. Your purpose is expressed by living out God’s Word.

The ultimate purpose of any Christian is to follow Jesus and to help others follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26, 22:36-40, 28:18-20). You can do that anywhere you live, work, and play! And the only way to know how to do that is by learning God’s Word.

• When and where will you read the Bible consistently?
• When you read the Bible, ask “What is one truth about God, humanity, or the world that I can live out today from the words of this passage?”
• Then answer how you will live out this truth — the specific, manageable tasks you tackle each day. 

If you practice reading God’s Word day by day, gleaning truth and living it out, you will live with life-giving purpose. 

If you need help to know how to read the Bible, see “For Further Study.”

3. Your purpose will look different in various life seasons.

When I was a young adult at university, I worked in a performing arts center. There, my purpose in following Jesus looked like working hard, praying for people I met, and seeking ways to have spiritual conversations with those who did not know Jesus. Now, I serve my family and write from home. 

Was one season more purposeful than another? No. Because no matter where you are, you live with epic, powerful purpose when you follow Jesus.  

Just breathe. You will not miss your purpose when you purpose yourself to following Jesus. 

Embrace where you are in this season of life. You are placed with purpose. 

Pray about your purpose or follow this prayer as a guide: God, thank you for placing me with purpose. Please help me to grow in knowing You through the Bible, in connecting with you in prayer and reflection, and in following You in everything I think, say, and do. I want to live Your purpose for me. Amen.

This article was originally titled “How To Live Out Your Purpose And What the Bible Says About It” in the December 2025 issue of Peer.