You are made for more

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Jeremiah 29:11

If God has a plan for your life, why does it sometimes feel unclear, stuck, or just out of reach? Why do so many of us carry a quiet sense of confusion about the future, even while believing God has more? You’re not alone—and you’re not off track. Here, we’ll explore how He reveals His purpose, how to listen for His guidance, and how to take faithful steps toward the life you were created to live.

God's plan for my life.

Feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you’ve missed God’s purpose; it

often means you’re standing at the beginning of discovering it.

Which school do I need to go to? Who should I marry? And where should I work? We sometimes assume God will tell us exactly what to do, allowing us to make all the right decisions without having to think much about it. To be clear, God can and does give specific direction at times—but not always. As a result of misguided assumptions that all the answers would fall from the sky, we can began feeling anxious, asking questions like “Am I not praying hard enough?” or “I have two good options; will my life be ruined if I make the wrong choice?" 

We need to learn a few key truths that will lead us to a better understanding of God’s plan for our lives:


1. God isn’t holding out on us.

God’s plan for our lives is not a set of instructions we have to follow perfectly in order to live our “best life.” One deviation doesn't ruin the whole thing. God does not keep His plan a secret until we pray enough or did enough to please Him. God is not holding out on us. So let’s take a step back and remember that God is kind. He has given us so many good things to enjoy in life. And yes, making wise, God-honoring decisions is an essential part of experiencing the good things He offers. But God doesn’t have a secret list of decisions you have to make or else.


> God gave us the ability to make decisions.


Remember, this same God gave us wisdom, opportunities for trusted relationships, and free will—the ability to make decisions. He wants us to pray, ask for advice, and make choices.


So if you have a choice between two God-honoring choices, pray. If God doesn’t provide clear direction, it’s not a sign that He’s mad at you. Instead, He’s inviting you to exercise your God-given wisdom and to rely on trusted friends for advice. 


"Where there is no counsel, people fall: but in a multitude of counselors there is wisdom." Proverbs 11:14


Asking questions like “What is God’s plan for my life?” is good, but obsessing over it isn’t healthy. Why? Because God isn’t trying to hide His plan for our lives. He calls us to pray for guidance, think, research, get good counsel, and then step out and take risks.


2. God’s plan is for all of us.

God has a plan for your life. What is it? To be a part of His plan for restoring the world.

Remember the “you” in Jeremiah 29:11? It’s talking about God’s plan for a group of people, not a single individual. 

Why does this matter? Because our purpose is to be a part of God’s plan, which is bigger than any of us.


What is God’s plan for the world? In the beginning God created a perfect world, but people put their own desires over God’s good plan. Did God give up on us after that? No, He started a new plan to restore the world.

Our purpose—and God’s plan for our lives—is to be a part of His plan of saving the world. How? By making small, daily decisions that make the world better. Consider how Jesus called us to live. He didn’t tell people to obsess over their jobs or who they marry. Instead, He called us to forgive others, look for opportunities to serve, and live with radical generosity. When we do these things, we’re following God’s plan for our lives.


We should continue to pray for guidance and direction for our individual faith journey, but we always know our ultimate calling is to become more like Jesus.


3. We can trust God, even when we feel directionless.

Imagine how the original readers of Jeremiah 29:11 might have felt. They had lost a war, their nation was destroyed, and many of their friends and family had lost their lives. They were forced to march hundreds of miles to their new home in captivity. But then they heard that God had a plan for their future beyond tragedy. A plan for them to prosper.

This verse is a promise that God’s plan is bigger than we are. Even when life feels dark, confusing, and dangerous, God's plan won't fail. 


So when we ask questions like “Does God have a plan?” we can trust that He’s working all the time, every day, to make the world more like Heaven. We may not always see it, but it’s always happening. In those moments, we can always pray, asking God for greater awareness of His presence and trustworthiness. And we can continue to participate in God’s plan for our lives, learning to live and love in a way that reflects Jesus. 


> God’s plan isn’t always comfortable.


Often when we ask the question: “Does God have a plan for my life?” what we really mean is: “How can I make choices that lead to the most comfortable, happy life?” But there’s a problem with this way of thinking: It’s not how the Bible talks about God’s plan for us.


Those people going into exile were right in the middle of God’s plan. So was Jesus as He was hated, abused, and killed on the cross. The early followers of Jesus made daily decisions to honor God, and they too faced criticism and violence. For all of them, God's plan included a lot of uncomfortable situations. So why should we expect it to be any different for us? Following Jesus leads to the most meaningful life we could ever hope to live, but He never promised it would be easy. It’s actually the opposite! As He explained to His disciples:


“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! 

I have overcome the world." John 16:33


For more context, you can read the whole chapter of John 16, but in short, even when we’re following God’s plan, we’ll run into problems and need His peace—and Jesus is with us through it all, still very much in charge.


> Next steps I can take to step into my God-given purpose.

  • Attend both sessions of New Chapel Connect during one of our Sunday services.
  • Begin to serve on the GoTeam.
  • Giving up unnecessary expenses so you can tithe. 
  • Sign-up for a small group during the week.

Made for more.

For more information on finding your God-given purpose, watch our Made for more series where we dive extensively into the topic of purpose, and discover all that God has for us.