meaning of life

Have you found anything at all good about life? If you have an answer to this question, then you have some idea of the meaning of life.

I’m so discouraged. Somebody tell me they’ve found something good about life!

Sometimes though, we lose sight of the good because of the pain that is screaming in our face. That’s when we have to look deeper. When life hasn’t been easy, we must look beyond this life.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Paul is saying that Christ is everything no matter if he’s alive or dead.

I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that God made a lot of good things about life we can enjoy. The bad news is there will always be something (the curse, our sin, others’ sin) that interferes with our desire for peace and enjoyment. As much as you try to find contentment, there are no guarantees that can make suffering go away permanently (at least not in this life).

Use Your Identity to Find Meaning

Finding the meaning of life is like finding gold. I must tell you what might only seem to be obvious: you can’t find gold if your metal-detector is broken.

If you’re confused about life, your head is probably too cluttered with discouraging thoughts. Before you can understand life, you need to understand yourself. You can’t find anything good in life if your identity is broken.

If you want to know the meaning of life, you first need to calibrate your detector (your identity). God created you, so he is the one to consult when you’re ready to fine-tune your thoughts (or might prefer, ‘get your head screwed on straight’). When you’re thinking clearly, you’ll be able to tell the difference between treasure and junk. Then you can answer the meaning-of-life question for yourself.

Here are some Robert Louis Stevenson quotes that might help you to stir up some of your own ideas:

“To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.”

“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.”

“The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain common work as it comes certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life.”

“You cannot run away from a weakness, you must sometimes fight it out or perish. And if that be so, why not now and where you stand?”

“An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding.”

“The truth that is suppressed by friends is the readiest weapon of the enemy.”

“Everyone who got where he is has had to begin where he was.”

Questioning God’s love is easy when difficult, unfair things are happening to you. How can you feel good about life when you give your all and it doesn’t seem to be enough?

How can God love me when life is so hard? I can’t feel God’s love. My life is pointless.

If you feel alone God has not abandoned you.

God loves you whether you feel it or not. Maybe you feel alone because you’re being stubborn, ignoring God, and/or not doing what he says. Maybe God is growing you right now and you’re not supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy.

I have a better question for you. Is God’s love real to you? You know you are a cherished son or daughter when God disciplines you (Hebrews 12:6). He’s training you for his purposes.

Sometimes God lets bad things happen, not because he hates you, but because he loves you. He knows your life will be better in the long run if you go through hard times but continue to follow him. If he gives you an easy life by giving you whatever you want, chances are you won’t get the one thing you need — God. If he lets bad things happen (which we started by sinning) you may lose the earthly things you want but you may start seeking God. And, if you start seeking him you’ll get the heavenly things you need. While it may not feel like it, God is being caring. God wants you to choose him and experience eternal life with him.

God has always been waiting for you to accept his way. But what is God’s way?

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

–Isaiah 55:8-11

God promises his ways are different than ours. He says his ways are better. Then God explains what his ways are.

¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed.”

–Isaiah 55:12-13 (emphasis mine)

God said he has better ways, then he says you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. He provides imagery showing how good his ways are. Finally, he says this will be his sign that will last forever. A sign that lasts forever can only be from God. Look for the signs in your life. Find the ones you know will last forever.

God’s way is full of joy and peace. If you seek God you will find him. You will find that he is God. You will find his way is full of joy and peace. You’ll find nothing on earth can compare with the joy and peace God gives. God’s way is good and beautiful. God’s way is abundant with life. Of course, right now isn’t perfect because of sin. You may not fully experience God’s way till you’re in heaven. If you’re a Christian you’re not home yet, but, fortunately, home is in you. If you seek God, you’ll find that he really loves you. You’ll find he has a plan and an identity for you.

In my book, Confident Identity I say, “When faced with an impossible situation you need a God who can accomplish the impossible…Even though there are difficult times of not connecting with God, He never forgets those He loves.” You will face times when you need God and sometimes it may feel like you’re alone. Remember God loves you and God never forgets those he loves.

God loves you! Because God loves you, he has an amazing plan for your life. He gave you a unique Identity he made specifically for you. God gave you an identity! Do you see yourself more clearly? Do you want to see yourself through God’s eyes? Do you want to dig into your identity and learn more about yourself? Confident Identity teaches you about your true identity.