Don’t Overthink Your Life Purpose

“We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority.” 2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

You have a primary area of authority within which you’ll thrive. It’s where you’ll get your accolades, do work that’s most meaningful to you and fulfil your purpose. Anything outside that area will seem alien to you.

But sometimes trying to think about what your purpose is can be overwhelming. People have created seminars, and written books on the subject yet everywhere you turn, the person standing next to you is still very much confused. Perhaps you are too.

Overthinking can lead to inaction or wrong action. On this subject I like to take it one step at a time by asking:

• Where are you now? Is it a job, or are you running a business? Are you in school or are you formally uneducated?
• What do you have now? From physical resources to innate resources, we all have something.
• What season are you in? Seasons come and go, but every season has a purpose. If you’re learning, then learn. If you’re building, then build.
• Are you passionate about anything at the moment? What you are passionate about helps you identify where to direct your talents. Passion is not talent. It is a fuel or burning desire that directs your talents, skills and strengths towards something.

Once you are empowered with answers to these questions, my advice is simple: obey the first instruction until you hear the next. How do you get the first instruction? Keep asking God what He wants you to do now. But while you ask, continue working.

God doesn’t give me the next instruction until He sees me do the first one. And I’ve realised this is how He works with many people too.

We try to figure out the grand plan while we ignore what’s in front of us. There’ll always be something to overthink about, so why not do it at the right time? You’ll realise that the moment you obey the first instruction, you’ll start asking questions about the next step. That’s a better way to channel our thinking than to figure out the entire thing because someone said so.

Do you know your area of authority? Do you know the scope that God has created for you to succeed? If you don’t know it yet, start from where you are, with what you have and in the season you are. It will all gradually unfold with time.