We often play video games, watch movies, and scan social media because our own lives are boring and we’d rather live more exciting lives vicariously through others. Ask yourself these two questions: “Am I just wandering through life?” and “What am I living for?” I’ve asked myself these questions over and over, and I’m continually surprised at how often I discover that I’ve been coasting through life without a point. But, there is hope. Here’s two keys to a life of meaning and adventure.
Key #1: Find a Purpose
A person’s natural tendency is to focus every element of life back toward themselves. Selfishly we like this, but it’s ultimately fruitless. Tom Brady, after winning this third super bowl admitted after achieving the highest goal in football that it all felt empty and meaningless. Yet somehow even the poorest of people claim to be fulfilled and have meaning. How does this happen?
It’s a sense of purpose.
Without a purpose, you are no different than the grass you mow every week. I believe that we are created by God for a purpose, and that purpose is two fold 1) love God and glorify his name, and 2) love others as yourself. God doesn’t want us to love him because he’s selfish and prideful. He wants us because he loves us and desires to be with us. He also knows we can only experience the true richness of life when we let his spirit pour into us daily.
We also are made to love others, and this is where your purpose becomes unique. God wants you to use your strengths to help others. He wants to use what you love doing to show love to others out of joy. For example, I love adventure and facing my fears. I also love helping others and writing. So, I use all of these to serve you now and help you to live a rich life also.
Ask yourself these questions and you will find a purpose that fills your life with meaning and adventure. “What do I love doing?” “What need do I see in others that hurts my heart?” “How can I take what I love and use that to meet this need my heart is yearning to meet?” You can’t fix every problem in the world, so focus on one, two, or three and meet those needs with excellence.
Key #2: Embrace Discomfort
Your life won’t be easy. But do you really want it to be easy in the first place? We like challenges. We like adventure. And, the unknown draws us. Embrace that spirit. Don’t focus on your personal pain or discomfort, keep your eyes fixed on your vision and on all those depending on your God-given ability.
I ran track, and I hated it. It was so boring. I wish there were obstacles or objects to dodge. Instead, I had a flat track. However, I was the second best distance runner by the end of my rookie year. How did I excel in something I disliked?
Every time I started feeling tired, instead of focusing on the discomfort, I focused on the finish line. I imagined how I’d feel at the end if I let my momentary discomfort slow me down and lose the race. Even if I threw up at the end because I ran my hardest, even if I lost, I could still look back with satisfaction to know I gave it my all.
Trials will come. Finances may get tough. Perhaps people will even ridicule you. So what! There’s not a single Medal of Honor recipient who won that medal for doing what was easy or giving up when things got hard. In those trials, focus on your goal, those you are trying to help, and God who promises to strengthen you to do his will. This is the adventurous life.
Which do you want?
Do you want to look back on your life and realize you spent it all in ease and comfort, having left no impact on the world. Or, would you rather look back and claim as Paul claimed in 2 Timothy 4:7b-8a “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day [of my death].”
Don’t get me wrong, the life of ease and comfort is tempting, but it’s empty. It will never satisfy. This has been my experience most of my life. I don’t look back with pride on all the hours I spent playing video games. However, I do look back with satisfaction on all the times I chose to do the hard thing. I feel like I won in those moments, and I want you to win also.
Only by following God faithfully and stepping out to take those hard steps of faith to live life on a purpose can you ever find true meaning and adventure.
What is your purpose in life? How have you persevered through difficulty? Please, comment your thoughts below.
If you feel like fear is holding you back, check out my post: Life Beyond Fear
