How to Find Purpose in Life (Even When You Feel Completely Lost)

At some point, every person faces the question that keeps them up at night: What am I actually here for? 

Not in the “What did I come in this room for?” way, but in the “Does my life even matter?” way. The kind of question that sneaks up when the job feels meaningless, when plans fall apart, or when you wake up and realize you’ve been on autopilot for a while now. 

I’ve done it in my own life. It can be a harsh alarm from what seemed like a nice nap. You know the one where you say, “I just need ten minutes to close my eyes.” And, then bam, it’s the next morning.

We like to believe that purpose is obvious. That it just clicks one day. That if we work hard, do the right things, and follow the right steps, we’ll end up exactly where we’re supposed to be, fulfilled and full of direction. 

But what happens when that doesn’t happen? What happens when you do all the right things and still feel lost? What happens when your dream job isn’t as fulfilling as you thought? What happens when you thought you had a plan, and now you’re staring at a blank space where your future used to be?

This is where most people spiral. Because without purpose, nothing makes sense.

It’s the reason some people fight to survive in the worst conditions while others, who have everything they need, still feel empty. If purpose is the thing that keeps us going, what do we do when we feel like we’ve lost it?

And if we were created by God, then shouldn’t our purpose be clear?

If you’re wondering why you’re here, what comes next, or if any of this even matters, let’s talk about it. 

Because there’s something you need to know:

Feeling lost doesn’t mean you don’t have a purpose. It just means you’re in the process of discovering it.

Your “Why” Can Survive Almost Any “How”

If you’ve never heard of Viktor Frankl, let me introduce you to a man whose story will wreck you in the best possible way.

Frankl was a psychiatrist—a man who spent his life studying the human mind, the depth of suffering, and the search for meaning. But all of his theories were put to the ultimate test when he was thrown into a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.

Everything was taken from him—his home, his work, his freedom. His wife, his family, his entire world. The only thing left was his mind and his ability to choose how he would respond to suffering.

While prisoners around him collapsed under the weight of despair, Frankl noticed something: the people who survived weren’t always the physically strongest. They were the ones who held onto a deep sense of purpose—something bigger than themselves.

Some fought to survive so they could reunite with their loved ones. For Frankl, it was to see his beloved wife again that gave him the courage to go on. Others endured for a belief, a dream, or even just the hope of making meaning out of their suffering.

Frankl saw firsthand that the human soul cannot survive without purpose. It wasn’t food, shelter, or even freedom that kept people alive—it was the why behind their suffering.

Later, he would write about this in his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, one of the most influential books ever written on purpose, suffering, and hope. You need to read this book. Frankl was not a Christian. He was a Jew. But the basic principles in this book align with the foundations of our faith and show the enduring human spirit in the worst of conditions possible. 

Coming out of all that he saw and experienced, Frankl said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

Let that sink in.

If you have a why, you can survive any how.

That means:

• Your life doesn’t have to be perfect to have meaning.
• Your situation doesn’t have to change for your purpose to be real.
• Even in suffering, there is still something worth living for.

And if Viktor Frankl could hold onto purpose in a concentration camp, then maybe—just maybe—you are not as lost as you think.

The Lie You’ve Been Told: “You Must Create Your Own Purpose”

The world has plenty of advice on finding purpose. They say, “Make your own destiny!” “Find what makes you happy!”Or “Manifest your best life!”

But has that ever actually worked? 

If success and happiness were all we needed to feel fulfilled, then the richest, most accomplished people in the world would be the most content. Instead, they’re often the ones who feel the most lost.

The truth? You don’t have to invent your purpose.

Purpose isn’t something you create—it’s something you discover through the One who created you.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

You don’t have to figure it all out—just follow God—He already has the master plan in hand. That’s not just a flippant thing for me to say. It’s built on years and years of drafting my own plans, some successful and some not, and only finding an emotional and spiritual dead end each time. 

Your “why” isn’t something that you build from scratch—it’s already woven into who God made you to be. The key is opening up to God, really seek Him, and He will show you the way. 

Jeremiah 29:11 puts it this way, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

When You Feel Lost, Your Purpose Hasn’t Disappeared—It’s Just Hard to See

Okay, I know I’m starting to sound like one of those people who screams, “God has a plan for your life! Just follow Him!”  You get all excited and ready to follow God anywhere, and then you realize you have no idea what direction to turn.

You’re doing everything right and still feel aimless. It’s like being left on “read.” You’re praying for direction and hearing nothing but silence.

So, if your purpose hasn’t disappeared, why is it so hard to see?

And if it’s hard to see—how do you find it?

1. Start by Paying Attention to Where You Already Are

We tend to treat purpose like a hidden treasure map—as if one day, we’ll stumble across a scroll that says, “This is your life’s mission. Go forth and conquer!”

But what if purpose isn’t some distant, future revelation?
What if it’s already woven into where you are right now?

Instead of panicking over “What am I supposed to do with my life?”, start asking:

• What responsibilities has God already given me?
• Who is already in my life that I can serve?
• What small step can I take today—right now—that aligns with who I believe God has called me to be?

Maybe purpose isn’t something you need to chase—it’s something you need to recognize.

2. Understand That Purpose is Revealed Through Obedience, Not Overthinking

Some of us are waiting for God to reveal everything before we take a step.

We think, “If He would just show me the whole plan, THEN I’d be all in!”

But that’s not how God works.

• Abraham didn’t get a roadmap—he got a command to pack up his stuff and go.
• Moses didn’t get a detailed plan—he got a burning bush, an assignment, and a big stick.
• Peter didn’t get the full picture—he got two words from a Nazarene carpenter: “Follow me.”

God reveals purpose as we obey—not as we overthink, analyze, or ask our friends what they think.

So, if you feel lost, stop waiting for a grand divine strategy session and start doing the next right thing you know to do. Even if it’s small. Even if it’s unimpressive. Even if it feels insignificant.

Because faithfulness in the small things leads to clarity in the big things.

3. If You Still Have Breath in Your Lungs, God Still Has a Plan for You

I hate to say it, but your feelings are not always a reliable source of truth. Feeling lost doesn’t mean you are lost. Feeling directionless doesn’t mean you have no direction. Feeling like your life has no purpose doesn’t mean that’s true. But we can get so wrapped up in the feelings that we can’t see anything else. 

There are days when I don’t feel purposeful. There are seasons when I wonder if I’m doing anything that matters. There are times when I write that I wonder, “Will these words ever make a difference to anyone.” And, honestly, I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. That’s not my problem. I only know this is what I’ve been put on this earth to do. So, here I sit, typing away.

And here’s what else I know—God doesn’t ask me to feel my way into purpose. He asks me to trust Him. 

One of my favorite verses of all time says it this way, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Because hear me on this—if you are still breathing, God still has a plan for you. And God doesn’t waste His breath.

You Were Made on Purpose, For a Purpose

Feeling lost doesn’t mean you’re forgotten. It doesn’t mean you’re off track or that you’ve somehow missed your shot at doing something meaningful. It doesn’t even mean you need to figure everything out today.

Lost just means you’re still in the process of discovering what God already knows. And God is still leading—whether you feel it or not.

Maybe you’re not where you thought you’d be by now. Maybe you’re looking at your life, wondering if anything you’re doing actually matters. Maybe purpose feels like something that belongs to other people—people who seem confident, successful, or effortlessly sure of their path.

But here’s the thing—nobody actually knows what they’re doing all the time. Not even the people who look like they do! Trust me—I know this for a fact.

Some of the most purposeful lives weren’t the result of perfect planning—they were the result of people simply showing up, taking the next step, and trusting God with the rest.

God isn’t waiting for you to stumble onto the right career, the perfect five-year plan, or some grand moment of clarity. I certainly never had that.

He’s waiting for you to trust Him with the small, faithful steps you can take today.

Viktor Frankl said, “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” He was a smart man who knew a bit about unbearable circumstances. 

And, as I said before—you don’t have to create meaning or purpose for your life. You were made with it already built in.

So, take the next step. Keep walking. Keep trusting. 

You’re not lost. You’re on your way.

A little faith, a little courage, and a whole lot of stubborn joy. – Tonya

What has helped you when you’ve struggled to find purpose? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

© 2025 All posts written by Tonya E. Lee