Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “One day, I’ll figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life”? Or perhaps you’ve mused, “Someday I’ll make a difference” or “Eventually, I’ll find my purpose.” It’s a common mindset, but what if we’re approaching the concept of purpose all wrong?
Often, we think of purpose as something “out there” – existing in some distant, nebulous future that we need to discover. We wait for the right conditions, believing we need to be more prepared, more spiritual, or have our lives more together before we can truly live out our purpose. But what if God is inviting us to live into our purpose right now, at this very moment, in this place, with what we already have?
To explore this idea, let’s turn to a familiar story found in all four gospels – the feeding of the five thousand. This miraculous event isn’t just meant to inspire awe; it’s a powerful lesson about recognizing that what we already possess is enough to accomplish the task God has set before us. It’s a story that demonstrates how we’re called to meet the needs right in front of us and shows us that purpose is very much in the present tense.
The story begins with Jesus and his disciples receiving devastating news about John the Baptist’s death. Understandably, they seek solitude to process their grief. However, a vast crowd follows them, desperate to see Jesus. Despite his own need for rest, Jesus looks at the multitude with compassion and begins healing the sick.
This is our first lesson in finding purpose: it begins with paying attention. Jesus doesn’t brush off the interruption or tell the people to come back another time. Instead, he is fully present in that moment, noticing and responding to the needs before him. How often do we miss opportunities to live out our purpose because we’re too focused on future plans or too busy avoiding present interruptions?
As the day wears on, the disciples face a dilemma. Thousands of people are gathered in a remote place with no food. Their solution? Send the crowds away to buy their own food. It seems practical, but Jesus has other ideas. He challenges the disciples, “You give them something to eat.”
This is where purpose requires compassion in action. It’s not enough to simply feel for others; we must be willing to do something about it. Jesus isn’t asking his followers to solve world hunger or implement a perfect system. He’s calling them to take responsibility for their immediate sphere of influence.
How often do we find ourselves saying, “Well, somebody should…” or “Somebody needs to…”? Perhaps it’s time to realize that we are that somebody. Our purpose isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions or complete clarity. It’s about responding with compassion when we see a need, even if we feel unprepared or ill-equipped.
The disciples’ initial response is telling: “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” They immediately focus on what they lack rather than what they have. How often do we do the same? We look at our resources, our time, our abilities, and decide they’re not enough. We forget that whatever little we have, plus Jesus, is more than sufficient.
This brings us to a crucial point: purpose uses what we have. God always starts with what we already possess, whether we think it’s enough or not. Our purpose isn’t waiting for some future version of ourselves; it’s for who we are right here, right now. The question isn’t, “Do I have enough?” but rather, “Am I willing to offer what I already have to God?”
Jesus’ response to the disciples’ meager offering is simple yet profound: “Bring them here to me.” He doesn’t dismiss what they have or ask for more. He simply asks them to bring what they have. This is what faith looks like – taking the next step, even when we can’t see where the road is leading.
What happens next is nothing short of miraculous. Jesus blesses the food, breaks it, and gives it to the disciples to distribute. As they give, the food multiplies. Everyone eats and is satisfied, with twelve baskets of leftovers remaining – more than what they started with!
This demonstrates a powerful truth: purpose multiplies when we step out in faith. The miracle unfolds in the giving, not in the hoarding or holding back. When we offer what we have to God and act in obedience, we open the door for Him to do what only He can do.
Imagine being one of those disciples. They knew the starting point – just five loaves and two fish. As they distributed the food, they must have been amazed to see it continue to multiply. While the crowd received the miracle, it was the disciples who truly grasped the magnitude of what was happening.
This story challenges us to reconsider how we view our purpose. It’s not about having it all figured out or waiting for perfect circumstances. It’s about taking what we have – no matter how meager it may seem – and offering it to Jesus. Let Him bless it, break it if necessary, and give it back to us so we can distribute it to those in need.
Living our purpose isn’t about solving some grand puzzle or having a perfect five-year plan. It’s about taking one step at a time, following Jesus wherever He may lead. We don’t need to feel ready, polished, or impressive. We just need to be willing.
So perhaps the question we should be asking is not, “What is my purpose?” with an eye to the future. Maybe the better question is, “What do I already have? What’s right in front of me? What can I bring to Jesus today?” That’s where purpose begins – not when our schedule clears up or when we feel like we finally have our life together, but when we’re willing to say, “Okay, God, here’s what I have. It’s not much, but I know you can do something with it.”
Purpose is not a future destination. It’s not something “out there” waiting for a more perfect version of ourselves to find it. Purpose is present tense. It’s how we show up at this moment. It’s how we offer whatever we have to God, even if it seems meager.
As we look at our world and our communities today, we see people in desperate need, unsure where to turn, perhaps having lost all hope. Will we look at them as Jesus did? Will we have compassion? Will we do all we can, no matter how small it may seem to us, so that they can experience the blessing of a miracle in their own lives?
When we start to do that – to pay attention, to act with compassion, to use what we have, and to step out in faith – then we truly will be living our purpose. And who knows? We might just witness our own loaves and fishes miracle along the way.
