Let’s talk about purpose.
After years of coaching Christian women, I’ve seen a pattern. So many of us are chasing purpose, but still feeling stuck, frustrated, or unsure. And the root of that struggle is we’ve been living with a definition of purpose that came from culture, not from God.
And that misunderstanding? It keeps us spinning our wheels.
So today, let’s reset, realign, and talk about what purpose really is, and what it’s not.
My Turning Point
This isn’t theory for me. This is a part of my testimony.
I remember sitting in my office years ago, looking out over a parking lot, feeling something I couldn’t quite put into words. By every external measure, I had “made it.” I had pursued my dream since I was twelve years old, worked hard, and was serving as a judge.
But deep down, there was a quiet ache.
Something was missing.
So, I did what I knew to do. I prayed, intentionally, persistently, honestly. I wasn’t looking for something casual. I needed clarity and direction. My heart desired to hear from God more than anything.
And while the answer didn’t come overnight, it did come.
That answer turned out to be huge.
The thing that God revealed to me was that being a judge was not my purpose.
And friend, your job isn’t your purpose either.
Purpose Is Not What You Think It Is
We’ve been taught to believe that our career equals our purpose. That what we do is who we are.
But that’s not the truth.
Your job is a vehicle. It is one way your purpose can be expressed, but it is not the source of your purpose. Jobs change. Seasons shift. Roles come and go. But your purpose remains.
Purpose is bigger than any position you will ever hold.
Here’s the thing you need to know:
- Purpose is not something you find. It’s something you were created for.
- Purpose does not change, even when your life does.
- Purpose is not about you, it’s about glorifying God and who you are called to serve.
That last one may challenge you, but it’s true. Your purpose is not your personal fulfillment project. It’s about impact and obedience. The people God has placed in your path are a part of your purpose.
And here’s the beautiful part. Your purpose is woven into who you are in Christ. It shows up in how you love, how you serve, how you speak, how you live.
You don’t turn purpose on and off. You live it.
And when you truly understand that? Decision-making becomes easier. You’re no longer asking, “Is this a good opportunity?” You’re asking, “Does this align with who God created me to be?”
That’s clarity.
Every Christian Woman Shares the Same Core Purpose
Now this might sound surprising at first.
Yes, your life is unique. Your story is unique. But your core purpose is not.
Every single one of us shares the same foundational purpose: To glorify God and serve others.
Isaiah 43:7 reminds us that we were created for His glory. And when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, His answer was simple.
Love God and love people.
That’s it.
That’s your purpose.
Let me make this practical.
Think about a treadmill. Its purpose is to help someone exercise. That never changes. It doesn’t matter where it is or who uses it; its purpose remains the same.
But how it fulfills that purpose? That can look different. Speed, incline, intensity, user. Each of those things can vary.
That’s your life.
Your purpose, to glorify God and serve others, never changes. But how you live that out? That is uniquely yours.
Purpose, Calling, And Assignment Are Not The Same
This is where so much confusion comes in.
When most women say, “I want to know my purpose,” what they’re really asking is, “What am I supposed to do with my life?”
But that’s not purpose. In my world, that’s calling.
Let’s break it down:
- Purpose is why you exist
- Calling is how you’re wired to live it out
- Assignment is what you’re doing in this season
Your purpose is constant.
Your calling is the unique way God designed you. And includes your gifts, your personality, your experiences, your voice.
Your assignment? That can change.
Let me give you an example.
I have a friend who is a photographer. She once said her calling was photography. But that wasn’t quite it.
Her calling is to help women feel beautiful.
Photography is one expression of that calling. But she also has a makeup line. A clothing line. Everything she does flows from the same calling.
That’s what it looks like.
Your calling is the lane. Your assignment is what you’re doing in that lane right now.
A Picture You’ll Never Forget
Let me leave you with this.
Think of your life like a tree.
- The roots are your purpose, deep, unchanging, unseen, but foundational.
- The trunk is your calling, strong, visible, uniquely shaped .
- The branches are your assignment, growing, shifting, changing with the seasons
A tree doesn’t panic in winter when the branches are bare. It doesn’t assume something is wrong just because things look still.
Why?
Because the roots are still working.
And if you’re in a season right now where things feel unclear, slow, or quiet, I want you to remember that God is still working.
Even when you can’t see it.
Final Encouragement
You were created on purpose, with purpose, for purpose.
You don’t have to chase purpose, strive for it, or even earn it.
You simply need to align with it.
Glorify God. Serve others. And trust Him to guide your calling and your assignment, one faithful step at a time.
Because when you understand this?
You understand the heart of God.
