Discovering God's Purpose: 5 Steps to Clarity and Calling

Myrna Buckles

26 May 2025 — 4 min read

Have you ever whispered, "God, what is my purpose?"

You’re not alone. Whether you're stepping into a new season as an empty nester, navigating retirement, or recovering from a major life shift, the question of God’s purpose for your life can feel both holy and haunting. It lingers in the silence of your mornings and the stillness of your prayers.

Watch Video: 5 Steps to Discover Your God-Given Purpose

Feeling Lost in a New Season

Life changes quickly. One day you're juggling a family, career, or ministry, and the next, you're left wondering what’s next. Maybe you’ve poured yourself into doing—serving others, checking tasks off your list, staying productive. But somewhere along the way, you forgot how to be.

Like many women over 40, you may feel spiritually restless. You've walked with God, but now you're standing at a crossroads, quietly asking, "Lord, is there more?"

When Doing Isn’t Enough

Several years ago, I led a mission team into a farming village on the side of an active volcano in Nicaragua. We were there to serve, but God had other plans for me that day. In the middle of a hot dog feed, sweaty and overwhelmed, I was tapped on the shoulder. A woman—just one—asked to talk.

We sat, we talked, she tried to teach me to crochet (I failed miserably). I didn’t realize the weight of that moment until a year later, when she told me our simple conversation had saved her life. She had been contemplating suicide. My presence reminded her she mattered. That encounter, that divine interruption, marked the beginning of my journey to uncover God's purpose for my next chapter.

The truth? You don’t need a mission trip to feel that nudge. The invitation is already here.

The Solution: Five Steps to Discovering God's Purpose

If you're ready to stop drifting and start living with clarity, here are five practical, biblically grounded steps to discover God's purpose for your life.

Step 1: Remember Who God Is—and Who You Are

Before you can understand your purpose, you must first understand the One who created you. God’s identity shapes yours.

Genesis 1:1 — "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
Isaiah 44:6 — "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."
1 Peter 2:9 — "But ye are a chosen generation... that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Understanding God's nature as Creator, Redeemer, and Father gives us confidence that He has a divine design just for us.

📝 Action Tip: Write down five truths about who God says He is—and five truths about who He says you are.

Step 2: Know What God Says About Purpose

The Bible speaks directly about purpose, seasons, and divine timing. One of the most quoted verses, Jeremiah 29:11, reminds us that God's plans are for us—not against us.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 — "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
Jeremiah 29:11 — "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you... thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

God’s purpose for your life may evolve, but it never vanishes. It’s waiting to be discovered, even in your current season.

📝 Action Tip: Ask yourself—What season am I in? What opportunities or shifts might God be preparing me for?

Step 3: Get Honest with God Through Prayer

Prayer isn’t a performance—it’s a posture of humility and seeking. It’s how you ask God for clarity, guidance, and peace.

John 3:16 — God gave His Son so that we might have life—purposeful, eternal life.
Hebrews 1:3 — Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. He wants to guide your purpose.

Whether whispered in your kitchen or spoken aloud in your car, your prayers matter. But purposeful prayer takes intentionality.

📝 Action Tip: Set aside 10 minutes each morning this week to pray specifically for insight into your purpose.

Would you like me to pray with you? Set up a time here.

Step 4: Journal Your Journey

Your prayers, promptings, and God-moments need a home. Writing down what you hear and how you feel keeps you present to God’s leading.

Science shows writing improves memory and learning. More importantly, journaling helps you trace how God has already answered prayers you may have forgotten you prayed.

📝 Action Tip: Start a simple "Purpose Journal." Each day, write one prayer and one moment of clarity, big or small.

Step 5: Surround Yourself with Purpose-Seekers

Community matters. You weren’t meant to walk this road alone. Surrounding yourself with others who are seeking God’s purpose brings encouragement, insight, and accountability.

John 4:23 — “...true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
Exodus 35:35 — “Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work…”

Whether it’s a prayer group, a mentorship circle, or a trusted friend, seek out those who value spiritual purpose as much as you do.

📝 Action Tip: Join a faith-based group or mentorship where your purpose can be nurtured and refined.

Final Word: What Will You Do with God's Purpose?

This is your moment. The crossroads you’re standing at isn’t random—it’s sacred. God doesn’t waste seasons. He guides, equips, and sends when we’re willing to listen.

You have two options: try to figure it out alone, or get the support you need to uncover, embrace, and live out the unique calling God placed on your life.

If you're ready for more, the Embracing Your God-Given Purpose Mentorship might be the next step. It includes: