Every day, as I drive my kids to school, I’m thinking about how to set them up well for their day. How can I point them to Jesus in those few moments in the car before they go off into their own world for the next 7 hours?

This morning I asked if they knew about Ash Wednesday. They’d heard of it but said they didn't know what it was about. (Same boat, girls. I had to look it up since I’ve never attended a church that had an Ash Wednesday service.)

So I began to share what I’d learned: that it’s the beginning of Lent, a season of remembrance—remembering our sin that put Jesus on the cross—and of lament. (Turns out that’s a difficult word to explain to children too!)

I knew I was knocking it out of the park when my 10-year-old said: “So we’re just supposed to be sad?” Yeah. Not what I was trying to communicate.

Has this ever happened to you, Reader?

Something you knew you should probably have clarity on comes out all jumbled up when you try to explain it.

It’s like talking about the purpose of our lives. Or our identity. Both are big topics it seems we should be clear on. But that’s easier said than done.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q1, has an answer for us. The chief end of man is “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

But how do we apply that to our daily life? What are some practical examples of what we’re meant to do with the life God has given us?

It’s not always clear or easy to determine.

That’s why I’m focusing on PURPOSE as the theme for the month of March on the Devoted Dreamers Podcast.

The Simple Truth About Your Purpose

This week’s episode offers a simple truth and a helpful exercise. Here’s the simple truth:

This grounds everything else we do.

But that’s not all.

God has also uniquely designed you with specific gifts, passions, and experiences that point toward your distinctive contribution to the world—what I call a “God-shaped dream.”

And if understanding your life's purpose or nailing down your God-shaped dream has evaded you thus far, this is the episode for you. Because if you are still on this earth, God has a plan for your life.

A Helpful Exercise: Uncovering the Breadcrumbs

Sometimes we struggle to recognize our purpose because we're too close to the subject see it clearly.

That's why I created the Life Purpose Mapping Exercise for you—a practical tool to help you trace God's fingerprints throughout your life's journey.

Your Next Step: Life Purpose Mapping

This week, I invite you to spend time mapping out your life:

• Break it into decades
• Identify turning points, transitions, and significant decisions
• Note realizations and events that shaped who you are today

Reality check: It's not about the worksheets themselves; they're just a tool, and I’ll be the first to admit they're pretty basic. However, it IS about you doing the work to look back on your life for specific waypoints that were transformational. Think back, write them out, and then look for themes that could be breadcrumbs hinting at a dream along the way.

If you prayerfully look for them, you will find them.

Remember, pursuing purpose isn't about finding a dream job or achieving some elusive calling—it's about recognizing that God's fingerprints are all over your intricate design and His plan for your life.

Your specific gifts, passions, and even struggles are woven into His greater purpose. Especially the struggles or disappointments; they are often hints to a lesson we needed to learn or a direction it was important to avoid. So don’t skip over the hard parts of your story; that’s often where you’ll find the gold!

Will you be working on the Life Purpose Mapping Exercise this week? If so, I’d love to hear how it goes for you.

With you,

~Merritt

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Listen to the full episode: "The Truth about Your Unique Purpose as a Christian" on Apple, Spotify or your preferred podcast platform​

Then, join the conversation on Facebook | Instagram​

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