Several months ago, I met a woman at a coffee shop. She was feeling completely lost about her direction in life. She had just graduated college with a degree in accounting, but every fiber of her being told her this wasn’t her path. She felt like she was disappointing everyone – her parents who had invested in her education, her professors who believed in her potential, and herself for not knowing what she wanted. As we talked, she kept saying, “I just don’t understand what God wants from me. I feel like I’m wandering without purpose.” Maybe you can relate to her story. Maybe you’re ending 2025 feeling uncertain about your direction, questioning whether your current path aligns with God’s plan, or wondering if you’ve somehow missed His calling for your life. Today, I want to share with you the beautiful truth that God has designed you with purpose from the very beginning.
Let’s turn to two powerful passages that reveal God’s intentional design for our lives. First, Jeremiah 29:11, which many of you know well: “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” And then Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” These verses aren’t just comforting words – they’re foundational truths about who you are and why you exist. Notice how they work together: Jeremiah tells us God has plans, and Ephesians tells us we are His workmanship, created for specific good works.
The word “workmanship” in Ephesians 2:10 is the Greek word “poiema,” from which we get our word “poem.” You are God’s poem, His masterpiece, His work of art. Just as a poet carefully chooses each word, each rhythm, each image to create something beautiful and meaningful, God has carefully crafted you with intention and purpose. When Jeremiah speaks of God’s plans, the Hebrew word is “machashavah,” which implies thoughtful consideration and deliberate design. These aren’t random thoughts or last-minute decisions. God’s plans for you have been carefully considered, lovingly designed, and purposefully prepared. Here’s what’s remarkable: Ephesians tells us that the good works we’re created for were “prepared beforehand.” Before you were born, before you took your first breath, God had already prepared specific purposes for your life. Your talents, your personality, your experiences – even the difficult ones – are all part of His intentional design. This means your purpose isn’t something you have to discover through trial and error or stumble upon by accident. It’s woven into the very fabric of who you are. When you feel lost or uncertain, you’re not wandering aimlessly – you’re a masterpiece learning to recognize the Artist’s design.
So how do we live out this truth practically as we enter a new year? First, stop apologizing for who God made you to be. If you’re naturally compassionate, don’t feel guilty for being “too sensitive.” If you’re analytical, don’t apologize for asking detailed questions. If you’re creative, don’t feel pressure to fit into conventional molds. God designed these traits in you for His purposes. Second, pay attention to what breaks your heart and what brings you joy. Often, our purpose is found at the intersection of the world’s needs and our God-given passions. What injustices make you angry? What problems do you naturally want to solve? What activities make you lose track of time? These aren’t random feelings – they’re clues to your design. Third, remember that purpose isn’t always about your career. The young woman I mentioned earlier, has realized that while accounting wasn’t her calling, her analytical skills and attention to detail were perfect for helping a local nonprofit manage their finances. She found purpose not by abandoning her training, but by using it in service of something greater. Your purpose might be expressed through your job, but it might also be found in how you parent, how you serve your community, how you encourage others, or how you use your resources. The good works God prepared for you aren’t limited to a job description.