Purpose Beyond Self

Your life is part of a story bigger than your Instagram feed

Today's Scripture says,"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" (NLT)

The Context They Never Mention:

Everyone quotes this verse at graduation ceremonies and New Year's resolutions. But here's the backstory that changes everything: Jeremiah was writing to people in exile. They'd lost everything—their homes, their country, their entire way of life. God's message wasn't "I'll get you back to your comfortable life ASAP." It was "I have plans that are bigger than your current circumstances. Plans that will use even this disaster for something meaningful."

Your generation isn't just accidentally passionate about justice, equality, mental health, climate change, and making the world better. That restlessness you feel about the state of things? That desire to see real change happen? That's not a random desire to contribute to something bigger than yourself. It is actually part of how God designed you.

But here's the deeper truth: God's plans for restoration start with personal restoration. The world needs healing, and that begins with individuals who have experienced healing themselves.

God's plans for you aren't just about your personal happiness or even your individual success. They're about how your unique gifts, struggles, and perspectives can contribute to healing a broken world, and that starts with the healing He wants to do in your own life.

The Personal Revolution:

Part of God's plan for you involves you acknowledging the ways you've contributed to brokenness—in relationships, in your own life, in how you've treated others. Real restoration requires real honesty about where we've missed the mark. This isn't about shame or self-hatred. It's about the freedom that comes when you stop carrying the weight of your mistakes and let Jesus carry them instead. When you say, "I've messed up, and I need forgiveness," you're not admitting weakness—you're stepping into the power that comes from being clean and free.

Maybe you've battled anxiety, and that experience gives you supernatural empathy for friends who are struggling. Maybe you've navigated family dysfunction, and that pain has made you wise beyond your years. Maybe you're passionate about art, technology, social media, or advocacy, and God wants to use those interests to reach people in ways traditional ministry never could.

The plans God has for you don't compete with your authentic interests; they flow through them. You don't have to choose between caring about social issues and caring about faith. You don't have to pick between being culturally relevant and being spiritually grounded.

There's a movement of young people who are discovering that following God doesn't mean abandoning their passions. They have discovered it means allowing those passions to be transformed into something even more powerful. They're environmental activists who see creation care as worship. They're artists who use their platforms to speak the truth. They're entrepreneurs who build businesses based on justice. They're therapists who see emotional healing as sacred work.

The Assignment You Didn't Know You Signed Up For:

Your present struggles aren't wasted; they are often preparation for your future assignment. The things that have broken your heart might be exactly what breaks God's heart as well. The injustices that keep you awake at night might be the very things He's calling you to address.

"I thought following God meant I had to become a pastor or missionary. But I realized God gave me my passion for criminal justice reform for a reason. Now I see my law degree as ministry, my advocacy work as worship. I'm not doing God's work despite my interests—I'm doing it through them." —Jordan, 24

There is a bigger Picture: Your life isn't just about you. It's about how you fit into God's story of restoration, justice, and love. The plans God has for you are connected to His plans for the world.

Think about this:

• What issues or causes make you feel most alive and engaged?
• What if your passions are actually clues to your purpose?
• How might God want to use your specific experiences and interests to impact others?

Talk to God about it: "God, I want my life to matter beyond just my own happiness. Show me how the things I care about connect to Your heart for the world. I'm sorry for the times I've been selfish or missed opportunities to make a difference. Jesus, forgive me for the ways I've hurt others or failed to love well. Help me see how You might want to use my passions, my struggles, and my unique perspective to make a difference. Give me courage to step into whatever assignment You have for me, starting with a clean slate and Your forgiveness."

Action Step: Identify one way you can use your gifts or interests to serve others this week, even in a small way.