Think You Don’t Have a Purpose in Life?

Psalm 139 is one of the most inspiring Psalms in Scripture and it was the inspiration for my book Waking Up Slowly. We don’t know when David wrote this stirring account of God’s indescribable attributes. Some believe he wrote it as a shepherd while gazing at the stars and the enormity of the heavens. Some feel he wrote it when he became king over Israel. As a more experienced human being myself it certainly feels like David had to have lived a little more life in order to write such a majestic dialog with God. But the truth is we just don’t know. In this amazing Psalm David made three observations about the greatness of God.

God knows everything about us.
God is everywhere we are.
God ordains everything about you.

One thing the Psalmist clearly proclaims is that we are not accidents and there is a purpose for you and me.

You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.
Psalm 139:13-16 (The Message)

We are known by God, We are watched over by God. We are ordained by God. You are not an accident nor am I. You are here for a reason. Henri Nouwen frames it beautifully.

“We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide how to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do.”

Everyday has the potential to do something or learn something that will alter someone’s life and even eternity. What an amazing thought that God can use someone like me for His purpose. I find that a remarkable example of His grace. But I forget that. I am known, cherished and ordained by God for His purpose. So are you. Every day matters and every moment matters.

This Psalm also inspired my children’s book about God’s purpose for all of His creatures. Grunt the Runt Finds His Purpose is the story of a little puppy with a big heart. Grunt learns that God creates every one of His creatures with a special role to fulfill but sometimes the journey to find that path is tough. Grunt finds his way into a service dog training program for military veterans. You will be touched by the heartwarming completion of Grunt the Runt’s determined and successful trek to find his purpose.

To honor Veteran’s Day we are going to donate $5 from EVERY book sale from my online store to Patriot Paws Service Dogs.You can help further their vital mission to help disabled American veterans find canine companions. And every copy will be autographed at no charge.