Once we have realized that God’s plans for us are pure and good, we start asking ourselves what is the purpose of our lives. Sometimes we tend to think that others have got a greater purpose than we do, but all in all we must understand that “Every youth, every child, has a work to do for the honor of God and the uplifting of humanity.”—Education, p. 58.

This simply means that existence for each of us—whether young or old—is for a purpose, regardless of who you really think you are, whether capable or incapable. One of the greatest prophets who ever lived is Jeremiah. He was born to a priestly family in Anathoth, about three miles from Jerusalem. Jeremiah was called as a prophet in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Josiah. For around 40 years, he spoke for God to the people of Judah. Jeremiah never knew what his purpose was, just like you and I. When called by God to be His mouthpiece, his response was, “I, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.” He never knew that being God’s mouthpiece was the reason for his existence until God explained: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Nevertheless, the Lord had to make him realize that it was not what he himself would do, but what God would do through him, “But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:5–8).

Often when called upon to do something for the Lord, we tend to look at our incapacities—forgetting that it is not what we can do but rather what God may do through us just as it was in the case of Jeremiah. “But when we give ourselves wholly to God and in our work follow His directions, He makes Himself responsible for its accomplishment. He would not have us conjecture as to the success of our honest endeavors. Not once should we even think of failure. We are to co-operate with One who knows no failure. We should not talk of our own weakness and inability. This is a manifest distrust of God, a denial of His word. When we murmur because of our burdens, or refuse the responsibilities He calls upon us to bear, we are virtually saying that He is a hard master, that He requires what He has not given us power to do.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 363.

What God expects from us is not perfection, but doing all to the uttermost best of our abilities. “Our heavenly Father requires no more nor less than He has given us ability to do. He lays upon His servants no burdens that they are not able to bear. ‘He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust’ (Psalm 103:14). All that He claims from us we through divine grace can render.”—Ibid., p. 362.

As we live in this world, we mostly think about our future prospects and how efficiently we may work for God as devout Christians. For this reason we are often compelled to think about the following issues:

With all the unfaithfulness and frailties we possess, to be a vessel for the Master’s use is not an easy thing. But it is indeed doable and this is why you and I should go to the One who is faithful and learn of Him; “When you give up your own will, your own wisdom, and learn of Christ, you will find admittance into the kingdom of God. He requires entire, unreserved surrender. Give up your life for Him to order, mold, and fashion. Take upon your neck His yoke. Submit to be led and taught by Him. . . .

“Abiding in Christ is choosing only the disposition of Christ, so that His interests are identified with yours. Abide in Him, to be and to do only what He wills. These are the conditions of discipleship, and unless they are complied with, you can never find rest. . . .

“You must have an inward, higher experience. You must obtain a growth in grace by abiding in Christ. When you are converted, you will not be a hindrance, but will strengthen your brethren.’ ”—Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 110, 111. This means that whenever we are compelled not to live according to the purpose of our lives as ordained by God because of our unfaithfulness and frailties, there is remedy in the school of Christ which should be utilized by us.

In general, we tend to evaluate the abilities and incapacities of others when it comes to certain things and it is for this reason that many have failed to pursue their dreams, their calling, and their careers because their limitations have been pointed out by the people close to them. Aside from that, often we prefer to undertake a cause just because our friends and family wants us to, irrespective of what God wants for us. But this should not be the case with us as Christians because the Bible says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). This simply means that whatever decision we make in life should be made to the glory of God. This, of course, can trigger mockery so a constant reminder should be given that “A mere profession of faith in Christ, a boastful knowledge of the truth, does not make a man a Christian. A religion that seeks only to gratify the eye, the ear, and the taste, or that sanctions self-indulgence, is not the religion of Christ.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 317. In short, God’s mandate is our mission. As His children, we must fully meet His expectations irrespective of people’s words and opinions about us.

We must be fully aware of the reality that even before we were born, God already had a purpose for our existence. That alone should make us more determined to live according to the purpose of our lives as ordained by Him. Not even our unfaithfulness, frailties, or people’s comments and opinions should make us lose focus on living according to the purpose of our lives because it is not what we can do but rather what God can do through us, “for with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

What you are doing may seem small and insignificant, and people may not applaud you for it, but there should always be a constant reminder that we are not doing things for men to applaud us. Rather, we should live according to how God wants us to live and work because we are fully aware that we must work the works of him that sent us, while it is day. According to John 9:4, the night cometh, when no man can work. All of this is possible, only if we adhere to the words of Christ, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). This means that living according to God’s purpose is only possible if we abide in Christ and He in us. “Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit, a life of unreserved surrender to His service. The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God. As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine, so are we to cling to Jesus, and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 676.

Dear child of God, our Heavenly Father in His omniscience saw it needful, “that man might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our Redeemer formed the plan of enlisting him as His coworker.”—The Review and Herald, August 25, 1874. Therefore, let us utilize this opportunity given us—that should not make us weary in well doing, whether or not people applaud us for what we are doing. Prayerfully and devotedly, let us utilize every opportunity which comes our way, that by God’s grace we may identify our talents and determine how well we can put them to use to live according to the purpose of our existence as ordained by God. Amen!