Living a Fulfilled Life

When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, it’s easy to believe that a fulfilling life depends on our circumstances—on everything finally falling into place. We tell ourselves that once the job stabilizes, the relationship improves, or the finances settle down, then we will have peace. But Scripture tells a different story. True fulfillment doesn’t come from what is happening around us; it flows from what God is forming within us.

The apostle Paul describes this Spirit-formed life in Galatians 5:22–23:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

This is not a checklist to complete or a standard to measure ourselves against. It is a description of the new life we have received in King Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we manufacture through effort or willpower; it is the natural result of the Holy Spirit’s transforming presence in our hearts. Just as a healthy tree bears fruit because life is flowing through it, a healthy spiritual life produces love, joy, and peace because the Spirit is at work within us.

Earlier in the chapter, Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. In doing so, he is really describing two very different ways of living. One life is driven by self—shaped by desire, fear, pride, and control. The other is guided by the Spirit—rooted in trust, nurtured by grace, and flourishing in God’s faithful love. A Spirit-shaped life is not defined by external success or stability, but by inner transformation.

Jesus described eternal life not simply as life after death, but as a quality of life that begins now—a life marked by God’s presence and purpose. That’s why the fruit of the Spirit is more than moral guidance; it is visible evidence that eternal life is already taking root within us. When we live by the Spirit, we don’t just behave differently—we are being made new.

This transformation reshapes how we understand fulfillment. Instead of being tied to circumstances, fulfillment becomes anchored in the presence of the Spirit. We discover that joy can exist even in hardship, peace can remain in seasons of uncertainty, and love can endure even when life wounds us deeply. This is one of the great paradoxes of spiritual growth: the more deeply the Spirit forms us, the less power the chaos of the world has over us.

As the Spirit works within us, we begin to experience a deep, steady contentment that circumstances cannot steal away. Fulfillment becomes less about control and more about surrender—trusting that God is faithfully at work, producing something good, beautiful, and lasting in us. The fruit of the Spirit reminds us that God is far more concerned with who we are becoming than with our ability to get everything we want.

So perhaps the daily question we need to ask isn’t, “Are things going my way?” but rather, “What kind of fruit is growing in my life?” Are we becoming more patient, more gentle, more faithful? Are joy and peace taking root even when life feels unstable?

The Spirit is faithful to produce this fruit as we remain connected to Jesus—the true vine (John 15:5). Our calling is not to strive harder, but to stay rooted in King Jesus through prayer, Scripture, worship, and life together in community. As we do, the Spirit grows in us what no amount of effort ever could: a life marked by love, joy, peace, and the very character of God.

Fulfillment is not something we achieve; it is something we receive as the Spirit shapes us from the inside out. May we be people who live from that place—grounded in God’s love, bearing the Spirit’s fruit, and discovering a joy no circumstance can undo.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Challenge Brings Out the Best

“Human beings, it seems, are at their best when immersed deeply in something challenging.”

— Cal Newport, Deep Work, p. 84

What we think we want isn’t always what we need.

For instance, we imagine that life would be great if we had a long stretch of time when we didn’t have anything to do and no responsibilities. Yet we get a few days off, and after a while we start to feel restless and bored. We need something to do.

Don’t get me wrong—rest is good and absolutely necessary. In fact, God gave Israel the idea of the Sabbath for this very purpose. Yet there’s something odd that happens when free time is all we have: it rarely refreshes us as much as we expected.

One of my favorite habits is flipping back through books I’ve read to revisit the highlights. The other day, while doing this with Cal Newport’s Deep Work, I paused on a quote where Newport summarizes the research of psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi—the man who studied the “flow state,” that experience of being fully absorbed in a meaningful, challenging activity. His conclusion?

“Ironically, jobs are actually easier to enjoy than free time, because like flow activities they have built-in goals, feedback rules, and challenges, all of which encourage one to become involved in one’s work, to concentrate and lose oneself in it. Free time, on the other hand, is unstructured, and requires much greater effort to be shaped into something that can be enjoyed.”

I find this fascinating. We tell ourselves that unstructured time is what we need, but the reality is that most of us thrive with the structure that comes with work. Not only does work provide a plan for the day, but it often provides us with the goals and feedback we need to make life productive.

This means having more time to relax won’t necessarily make us happier. Our goal shouldn’t be to reduce effort, avoid stress, and stay comfortable—those things have their place, but I think this research pushes us to consider something deeper about how God designed us.

Why We Crave Challenge More Than Comfort

Newport points out that most people assume happiness comes from leisure. Yet when researchers measured people’s emotional states throughout the day, they consistently discovered the opposite: people were happier at work than during their free time.

Why?

Because meaningful work gives us structure, purpose, and feedback. It engages the mind. It stretches our skills. It calls something out of us. We are created to be productive, and therefore we have a desire in our hearts to spend our lives doing something meaningful.

Free time, on the other hand, is unstructured. It requires intention and effort to shape into something fulfilling. Left on its own, it usually gets filled with scrolling, grazing, or drifting—which often leaves us feeling like we’ve wasted our time.

It’s not that free time is bad—we need time to rest and find restoration. But we need to understand that we come alive when we’re engaged in work that demands our best.

We were made for purpose, not passivity.

A Biblical Echo

This insight into human nature aligns wonderfully with the biblical story of God’s purpose for people.

Adam was not placed in Eden to rest; he was given the responsibility of caring for God’s good creation (Genesis 2:15). Work was part of God’s good design from the beginning.

Paul wrote: 

“But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone” — (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12, CSB).

Wholehearted work is not a curse that resulted from sin. It is the way we take care of God’s creation and represent Him well in the world.

Even Jesus spoke about the satisfaction that comes from doing the Father’s will: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

There is joy in meaningful work and productivity. It’s the joy of using what God has given us and not letting time slip through our fingers.

Where We Lose Our Way

Unfortunately, in our modern world, we often make comfort the goal of life. We believe the good life is the easy life. We dream of more vacations and fun, fewer responsibilities, and an escape from anything that requires sustained effort.

But that dream fails us.

A life of ease doesn’t fulfill the desire of our hearts. There’s little doubt that we need moments of rest and relaxation to enjoy the world God has given us, but we also find our purpose through working in this world. 

Adam and Eve were to be stewards of creation, and that responsibility continues in us. This is why we find joy in creating new things and pleasure in bringing old things back to life. It’s why things like gardening, sewing, and woodworking are hobbies that people pursue—they’re outlets for both creativity and productivity, and they bring us rest and satisfaction in the work we’ve accomplished.

Endless scrolling and lounging on the couch may not be work, but they often don’t bring rest either, because they don’t meet the deeper desires of our hearts—desires for meaning and purpose.

It’s crucial to remember: a life of ease doesn’t bring us the happiness we think is there. The joy we need is found on the other side of a structured life and meaningful work.

Your Deep Work Might Be Different—But You Have One

What does this mean for us?

I have to admit that not all work is created equal. Yes, there are times when you feel like you’re just going through the motions at work, and the structure it provides isn’t as beneficial as it used to be. What this means is that we have to be the ones who put structure into our days.

This looks like building in routines that help us exercise, journal, meditate, and pray. It means finding hobbies that become part of our lives—maybe even treating them like appointments in our week—because we know they provide the structure and creativity our hearts need. It’s telling ourselves that things like helping our children with homework, doing dishes, folding laundry, and the thousands of other responsibilities are part of what it takes for our corner of the world to flourish.

Colossians 3:17 has become something of a life verse for me: 

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (CSB).

This is the perspective we need to make our work meaningful, because it reminds us that what we do is for the good of God’s Kingdom.

An Invitation to Go Deep

Here’s the question I’m asking myself after reflecting on Newport’s words: What structure do I need to add to my day to make my work meaningful and productive?

This is important because that’s the type of work that brings joy and gratitude into our lives.

And maybe you can ask yourself: Where would I thrive if I allowed myself to be challenged instead of staying distracted and comfortable?

Because here’s the truth Csikszentmihalyi discovered and the Bible affirms:

You were made to stretch.  

You were created to invest.  

You are at your best when you give yourself to something meaningful.

Not endlessly busy.  

Not hurried.  

But deeply engaged.

That’s where joy lives.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Only Jesus Can Restore Us

J. Heinrich Arnold wrote; "Jesus alone can heal us and give us a new heart.  He came to restore us through his blood, and every heart, however tormented, can find comfort and healing in him" (Freedom from Sinful Thoughts).

Part of the human condition is to look for life apart from God.  At one time or another everyone resembles the church family at Laodicea.  These Christians believed that because of their wealth, their continued prosperity, and their industry that they needed nothing.  They clung to the belief that their hard work, their great economy, and their wonderful city provided for them everything they needed.

The problem was God saw things differently.  They saw themselves as fashionable and wealthy, but God knew they were poor, pitiful, and pathetic (Rev. 3:17).  Their source of life and healing was nothing but a broken cistern, unable to give them what they truly needed.

The counsel Jesus gave to this church was to turn to him and he would give them real wealth, real healing, and real fashion.  These Christian would rather make do with the things of this world than to experience the real life Christ delivered them to live.

So many of us continue to insist on finding hope, healing, and life on our own.  The question I remember Erwin McManus asking in a sermon years ago is relevant to this discussion: "Why do we continue to search for life in dead places?" 

We search for life in good things like relationships, jobs, and traditions.  We search for life in evil things like drugs, pornography, and immorality.  Everything from education to politics to entertainment can be turned into a source of life, healing, and hope.  As we do this we continue to discover that they do not satisfy.

Sooner of later we need to come to the realization that the apostle Paul came to:

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!  —(Philippians 3:7-11; NLT).

This brings us back to the quote from the start: Jesus alone brings healing.  The condition attached to the healing Jesus offers is that we need to set aside what we are clinging to now and come empty handed to him.  It is not easy to break free from the things we have clung onto for so long for identity, life, hope, and healing, but it must be done.  That is what repentance is all about. 

The great news is that healing and true life is available to everyone.  It does matter who you are and what you have done, Jesus offers you healing and life.  Come as you are to Jesus, and he will give you the healing your heart desperately needs.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Why I Still Follow Jesus

Why do I still follow Jesus Christ? 

For me, it comes down to purpose—a call that God has woven into my life. Jesus didn’t just ask His first disciples to drop their nets and believe a set of ideas; He invited them into something bigger: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). That same invitation echoes today. We’re made for good works (Ephesians 2:10), not just to hold to a set of doctrines and beliefs, but to actually live those truths. In other words, following Jesus isn’t about checking off a list of doctrines—it’s about joining a movement that changes the world, through the simplest acts of love (Matthew 25:31-46).

Of course, plenty of Christians fall short of this calling, but that doesn’t make the calling invalid. Rather, it reminds us that we need help in living this calling out in our lives. As followers of Jesus, we’re meant to bring light to our families, communities, and nations. The Church, at its best, is God’s love in action.

The purpose I have as a follower of Jesus depends on two important choices. It depends on my choice to be faithful to King Jesus in every area of my life. I can only live this calling out if I am faithful. The second choice is the choice to love. Jesus taught that the most important commandment is to love: to love God and to love people. If I am not going to love, then it is impossible for me to live out the purpose of my life.

Now, compare that to what I’ll call the “evangelical atheist.” Their message urges people to abandon belief in God—but what’s the replacement? Do they genuinely think a world without God would be better? If so, where’s the proof? History doesn’t exactly back them up. And when they reject the source of goodness and love, what’s left to inspire kindness or sacrifice?

That’s not to say atheists can’t be moral or altruistic—many are. But they lack a foundation to call others to a life that seeks to make this world a better place. Without an absolute moral standard, they rely on shifting personal or cultural ideals, which is shaky ground when human nature often prioritizes self-interest over the suffering of others. Atheism critiques but doesn’t construct; it deconstructs faith yet offers no compelling alternative that can inspire, unite, or transform people and culture.

Faith in Jesus is not just about our self-interest. It calls us to something greater. The New Testament teachings this truth over and over again—Jesus commands us to love God and others (Matthew 22:34-40), Paul urges us to serve selflessly (Romans 12, Galatians 6, Ephesians 2:10), James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 1:27), Peter exhorts us to bless others (1 Peter 3:9), and John emphasizes love in action (1 John 3:16-18). Disciples of Jesus are not just encouraged to love—we’re expected to. It’s central to our calling.

What’s amazing is how this call to love is for everyone. No one is incapable of loving. If morality were merely a personal construct, we’d have an innumerable number of ideas about what is right and wrong —forcing everyone to champion the causes they believe to be most important, whether climate change, poverty, or global suffering. That’s a recipe for burnout and division, especially since we cannot agree on what’s most important.

Christianity changes that. God sets a moral standard, calls us to love Him and others, and then gives us the freedom to bring our unique gifts to the table. The metaphor of being the Body of Christ nails it (Romans 12:3-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)—we are different parts of the body with distinct roles (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:7-11). God’s plan is a Church full of individuals, each equipped to tackle the world’s brokenness in their own way.

 None of us can meet the world’s brokenness on our own, but when we work together we can make a difference.

So, I follow Jesus—doubts and all—because this call isn’t just about my personal relationship with Jesus; it’s about God’s people working together to influence the world. It’s about serving those around me and carrying God’s love into the world, all the while partnering with others. In living it out the calling to love and serve, I discover the life I was made for. And honestly? I want others to find that life too.

Redefining Purpose

Many, if not all of us, have a sense that we were made for more. That we were created to do something great that will change the world, or at least make a difference in the lives of a few people. We don’t want our lives be meaningless.

This is why we frequently hear messages about pursuing our dreams and following our hearts. Those are the messages that we want to hear. American culture, even within the church, promotes the idea that a fulfilled life comes from doing what we are passionate about—chasing our "God-given dreams" and living a life of success, influence, and happiness.

But what if purpose isn’t about chasing a dream? What if it’s about something deeper—something unshakable?

To answer this, we must first ask: What is purpose?

At its core, purpose is about our why—our primary motivation for living. It helps us make sense of life and determine how to best use our time, talents, and opportunities. But does the world's definition align with God’s?

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Worldly Definitions of Purpose

A Performance-Based View of Purpose

In today’s culture, the idea of finding your purpose is often tied to personal fulfillment. People are encouraged to search for their true calling, chase their dreams, and to do what they are passionate about. There is no doubt that meaningful work is a blessing, this mindset can also be misleading because it equates purpose with success, status, or self-fulfillment—luxuries that not everyone can afford.

From a young age, we are conditioned to believe that purpose is something we must discover and achieve. We hear motivational phrases like:

• “Follow your passion, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
• “When you cease to dream you cease to live.”
• “Dreams are the fuel that ignites the fire of possibility.”

These thoughts may be inspiring, but they can also create unrealistic expectations. Not everyone has a single, lifelong passion or a clear career path that feels like their "one true calling." Many people struggle with uncertainty, transition, or simply working to provide for their families. Does that mean they lack purpose?

The Anxiety of Chasing Purpose

When purpose is defined by following your dreams or living with a passion, it leads to unnecessary stress when that is not your experience. Rather than discovering their purpose, many people will experience:

• Doubt – “Do I have a dream worth following?”
• Disappointment – “Every time I think life is going to turn around for me the other shoe drops.”
• Comparison – “Others seem to be living their dream—why am I struggling?”

Rather than bringing joy, the pursuit of purpose often brings with it anxiety and depression, making people feel like they are being left behind or missing out on something bigger.

The Pressure to Define Ourselves by What We Do

We all know that our American culture equates identity with career and achievements. When someone asks, “What do you do?” they are often really asking, “Who are you?” This places enormous pressure on people to define themselves by their accomplishments rather than their character or faithfulness.

I know I struggled with this when I was baking bagels in Iowa City, unable to find a paid pastoral position. I constantly battled feelings of failure and inadequacy. I had based my identity and purpose so much on being a pastor that when I wasn’t in that role, I felt like I was wasting my life.

Looking back, I now see how God used that time in my life to refine my character and reshape my understanding of purpose.

What Happens When Circumstances Change?

If our purpose is tied to what we do or what we can achieve, then what happens when life takes an unexpected turn?

• What if you lose your job?
• What if your dreams shift or don’t work out?
• What if your season of life demands something different from what you planned?

When purpose is defined by success, failure or change can make us feel like we’ve lost our identity.

Shifting the Focus

The world’s definition of purpose is rooted in following your dreams and trying to accomplish something great, but this approach often leads to frustration, disappointment, and anxiety. Instead of purpose being about our fulfillment and success, Scripture teaches that our purpose is found in something different—faithfulness to God.

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The Biblical Definition of Purpose

The world often tells us that purpose about what we do—chasing our dreams, the difference we make, or the impact we have on other people. However, Scripture paints a different picture. Instead of tying purpose to achievement, the Bible consistently defines it in terms of faithfulness to God. Our purpose is not found in what we accomplish but in how we live in obedience to Him.

Purpose Is Rooted in Faithfulness, Not Success

Rather than centering purpose on self-fulfillment, Scripture calls us to live in a way that reflects God’s heart and character in all the various circumstances of life. Consider these key verses:

Micah 6:8

"Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God."

• God makes it clear that our purpose isn’t about chasing grand achievements but about living with justice, mercy, and humility.
• Success means little if we neglect those around us who are struggling. Purpose is about using what we have to make a difference.
• True purpose requires walking humbly with God—aligning with His values and will rather than our own ambitions.

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

• Our ultimate purpose is not about us but about Jesus living through us.
• We are called to live with love, hope, and truth, showing the world that there is a better way.
• True purpose is found in surrender—allowing Jesus to shape our desires, decisions, and daily lives.

Colossians 3:17

"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

• This verse doesn’t limit purpose to a specific job or calling. Instead, whatever we do should be done in a way that honors Jesus.
• Our loyalty to Christ is seen in how we live and represent Him in our daily lives.
• This is the purpose for every Christian—we represent King Jesus in everything we say and do.

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A Shift in Perspective: From Doing to Being

These verses challenge the common idea that purpose is about what we do. Instead, they emphasize how we live. Purpose is less about a grand mission to change the world and more about a daily posture of obedience, love, and faithfulness.

• Instead of asking, “What should I do with my life?” we should ask, “How can I honor God in whatever I do?”
• Instead of trying to follow our hearts, we should focus on being faithful wherever God has placed us.

Living with Purpose in Every Season

This biblical view of purpose brings incredible freedom. If purpose is tied to a specific job, talent, or opportunity, then our sense of meaning is fragile—it can be lost when circumstances change. But if our purpose is found in living faithfully before God, then we can live with purpose whether we are:

• Working in a career we love or in a job that simply provides for our needs.
• In a time of growth or a time of waiting.
• Serving in a big, visible way or in quiet, unseen way.

No moment is wasted when our purpose is to walk humbly with God and to be faithful to Him in every circumstance of our lives.

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Conclusion: Purpose Is About Faithfulness

The biblical definition of purpose removes the pressure to “figure it all out” and instead calls us to trust God, love others, and live for His glory. No matter where we are or what we do, our purpose remains the same:

To act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with our God.