FULFILLING PURPOSE IN ADULTHOOD

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE” – Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

Discovering and pursuing Purpose in childhood and youth lead to FULFILLING PURPOSE IN ADULTHOOD: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE” (Phi.2:13, NIV). The preceding verse says: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (v.12, NIV). Trust and obey! That’s the key! Life is not mathematics and the trajectories of personal progress vary, but there are times and seasons in life: “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Eccl.3:1).

The implication is that certain aspects of God’s purpose should be fulfilled at their appropriate seasons. It is an error under the sun if what is meant for the dawn of childhood or the morning of youth is delayed till the dusk of old age! We are not meant to remain babies or children perpetually. God’s will is that whatever purpose we discover and begin to pursue in childhood or in the years of youth should be substantially fulfilled in adulthood. Paul said: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things (1Cor.13:11). This applies not only to spiritual maturity but to progress in all aspects of life and destiny.

Indeed, the true measure of adulthood is not in the number of years one has spent on earth, but the investments and impact that accrues to one’s destiny. Life is better measured by its donation than by its duration; by purposeful productivity than frenetic, neck-breaking busyness. Some people are so busy about their lives, driven by the daily demands of life that they forget the purpose behind them. They forget that God always has a greater – often global – purpose. His purposes not only encompass our lives, but the lives of those around us – at home, school, work, church, community, and global family.

Purpose should cover the entirety of our lifetime from the cradle to grey hair, hence its criticality. God’s purpose must always be on the forefront of our minds, such that every opportunity for education, career, marriage, employment, parenting, and community and Christian service would align with it. This takes wisdom on our part to trust in His grace and wait on His peace before making presumptuous decisions that may have lifetime and even eternal ramifications. There’s great joy in the discovery and pursuit of His purpose when we trust in Him rather than on our feelings or pressures from other people.

If you’re still struggling with the question of purpose, no matter how far you’ve travelled on life’s pathway, you need not panic. Maybe your mind is full of uncertainties and your dreams have changed so often that when someone asks where you see yourself in five years, you’re gripped with anxiety. What you need is clarity of Vision – the unveiling of Purpose; and God is more than willing to brighten your life’s pathway: “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Pro.4:18). As you lay hold on Vision and passion, you’ll be ushered into the fulfilment of Purpose.

Whatever your background and experiences might have been from babyhood through childhood and teenage, never forget that God works through all situations to fulfil His purpose: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom.8:28). Tough times can make it difficult to see God’s purpose especially when we only feel pain and pressures. Many times we find it odd to be reminded that God is working through challenges for our good. However if we practice living our lives with the mentality that God is working things out for us, we would ultimately enter into the blessing of the fulfilment of purpose!