Finding Our Purpose in Spiritual Formation
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430, A.D.) in his book Confessions wrote, “You [God] have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” This statement reflects the longing inside every person for the deep and abiding relationship with God that is both possible and necessary for us to find contentment and purpose in life.
St. Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi said, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” The contentment that Paul experienced was due to his relationship with Christ in which he found strength and a purpose for living.
Today, so many people struggle to find a purpose in life. This is true for many people, regardless of their relationship with God. Deep contentment and purpose do not come from success, personal achievements, wealth, ministry accomplishments, or even the good we do to others. True contentment and purpose comes first through finding our rest and purpose in Christ.
The daily struggle from our human nature and the world is away from Christ. Yet, our broken human condition is incomplete and unable to sustain contentment and purpose. Any momentary contentment and peace we might feel is fleeting if we are not first finding our purpose and our home in Christ. The gravitational pull of life is away from Christ and towards our broken selves. Our broken selves can only heal and grow so far because we were made for relationship with Christ. We were made for God and to find rest in Him. Yet, when we move towards Christ, and we find our home in him, he transforms the broken and wounded parts of ourselves and restores to his likeness and an unbroken relationship with God.
In order to find that rest, that home, that purpose and contentment in God, we must move toward Christ daily in spiritual growth, spiritual practices, and spiritual disciplines that allow Christ to form us into his likeness.
May we find that rest that we are all seeking in God.