A couple of Sundays ago, we experienced a snowstorm here in New York. Everything stopped. Roads closed. Plans paused. Silence settled in.
Some storms come to disrupt, but others come to clear the path. They remove distractions, disappointments, and even the people and patterns we picked up along the way. Since then, much has happened. We have grieved losses. We became intentional about gratitude. And then, quietly, it was time to change again.
That brings us to today’s conversation: purpose, and its close companion, contentment.
Do We Know Who We Are?
After completing a PhD in biochemistry and spending years in science, I came to the United States searching for a job similar to what I had done before. With degrees in the sciences, I identified myself as a scientist. Yet I could not find work in the field I studied.
I was trained in life sciences, but who I was went far beyond my training.
Before we ask what we are supposed to do, we must first ask who we are. Sometimes we learn this by recognizing who we are not. We are not our degrees, our job titles, we are not defined by where we were born or how society labels us.
Who we are includes our strengths and weaknesses, our natural abilities, personalities, passions, and lived experiences. Before joining organizations, taking on roles, or saying yes to opportunities, we must know ourselves. Otherwise, we risk doing good things that are not our things—or not aligned with God’s will for our lives.
Many of us are capable learners. We can do many things well. But ability does not equal purpose. Without self-awareness and alignment, it is easy to misplace our gifts.
What Is Purpose?
According to the dictionary, purpose is the reason something is done, created, or exists.
Scripture takes this further. David writes, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me” (Psalm 138:8). Here, purpose points to destiny, the underlying reason we were born.
Purpose is not something we manufacture. It is something God fulfills in us as we walk with Him. It unfolds through surrender, obedience, and trust.
At one point, I became deeply immersed in what I call the “purpose movement.” I was working a 9–5 job that felt meaningless, and my life felt empty. The organization was doing good work, but it was not the right work for me. I wanted to know where I was going.
That question marked the beginning of my search. What we seek, we will find, but how purpose unfolds is rarely what we imagine.
Why Do We Do What We Do?
We live in a culture that celebrates accumulation, more money, more houses, more cars, more titles. Even within church spaces, we are not immune.
Success is often defined by what we own or earn rather than who we are and how we serve. As we climb ladders and collect accolades, we must pause and ask: Are we content?
Some people have everything society says they should want and still feel restless. Others desire what someone else has, not because they need it, but because they feel unfulfilled.
That is not ambition. That is discontentment. And discontentment often surfaces when we do not know who we are or why we are here.
What Does It Mean to Be Content?
Contentment is not apathy, nor is it giving up on dreams or settling for less. Contentment is a state of peace and satisfaction that is independent of external circumstances.
Many people say, “Once I get this, I’ll be satisfied,” yet when they get it, they immediately move on to the next thing. Others want what someone else has, not out of necessity, but because of inner dissatisfaction. This is not ambition—it is discontentment.
Paul describes contentment this way in Philippians 4:11–13. He explains that he learned to be content whether he had much or little, because his strength came from Christ. His peace was rooted in alignment, not accumulation.
Unfortunately, we often misapply “I can do all things through Christ” to hustle culture, when Paul was actually speaking about enduring life with peace, not striving endlessly for more.
What Happens When We Decide to Walk in Purpose?
When I first knew I was supposed to start writing, fear came over me. It was not emotional fear, it felt sudden and almost paralyzing.
I remember thinking how strange it was, because fear was not my operating place anymore. Then scripture came to mind: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1-7.
Love fuels clarity. Power follows alignment. Fear interrupts both. Fear does not disappear, but we move through it. Purpose requires courage, even in uncertainty.
Does Purpose Have a Time and Place?
Originally, I wanted to come to the United States for my undergraduate degree, but it did not happen. I studied in Jamaica, worked, completed a master’s degree in England, returned to Jamaica, then pursued a PhD in Canada. I thought Canada was where I would settle.
Then I was disrupted again and led to the United States. I resisted. Looking back now, I understand why. Had I come earlier, I may have lost my faith. God was also exposing me to different cultures and systems, preparing me quietly.
Only when I arrived here and could not find work that I began reflecting.
Purpose has timing
Purpose has a specific place
Purpose involves people.
God often prepares us indirectly for years before positioning us directly.
How Do We Begin? What Is in Your Hand?
When God asked Moses, “What is in your hand?” He was not asking about potential but pointing to what was already there.
After my PhD, when I could not find a job, I sought God. He gave me a book. Then a blog. Then the nudge to share.
I was not trying to get a job. I was simply being obedient. As I shared what came naturally, doors opened unexpectedly.
Through sharing, I entered the tech industry—something I never imagined for myself. Others saw gifts in me that I had not yet recognized. Even during my PhD, much of my work was computational, though I was in a biochemistry lab. I taught myself many skills without realizing their value.
Often, others see our gifts before we do. That is why community matters.
Does Purpose Always Start Small?
Purpose begins in seed form.
When I started writing, I did not see myself as a consultant or life coach. I simply followed the leading. It did not always make sense, but I trusted God’s faithfulness.
Many people want platforms without preparation, rewards without refinement. Growth takes time. Some step into purpose later in life, not because they were late, but because they were being shaped.
It is 2026. We do not have to wait until retirement to begin the work we were born to do.
Can Unbelievers Walk in Purpose?
Scripture tells us that many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails (Proverbs 19:21). God told Pharaoh that He raised him up for a purpose (Exodus 9:16). This shows that God’s purposes extend beyond belief status.
Proverbs 16:4 reminds us that God has made everything for His purpose, even when people are unaware of it. However, purpose without alignment does not lead to good outcomes. There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12).
God’s purpose will be fulfilled with or without us. Esther was reminded that deliverance would come from another place if she remained silent.
The question is not whether God’s purpose will be done, but through whom.
How Are Purpose and Contentment Connected?
When we walk in purpose, contentment follows, even during hardship. Paul’s peace came from knowing Christ, not from comfort.
Contentment does not mean wanting nothing. It means wanting the right things for the right reasons. Desires are not wrong, but motives matter.
When I pursued a PhD, some thought I was greedy because I already had a degree and a stable job. But my desire was rooted in growth, not selfishness. Growth of the mind, spirit, and purpose.
Two people can pursue the same goal with different intentions. That is why Scripture reminds us that the heart can be deceptive. We must examine our motives honestly.
When Wanting More Turns into Greed
Greed often hides quietly. People can accumulate wealth, knowledge, and influence without ever giving back, teaching, or mentoring. Meanwhile, communities suffer, and younger generations lack guidance.
Are we robbing the Kingdom of God? Not just financially, but through withholding our gifts, wisdom, and time. Jesus reminds us to give to God what belongs to God.
Young people across the world are hungry for opportunity. When they are underemployed, undervalued, or unsupported, they become vulnerable. In our digital age, technology can either empower or exploit.
What if we are the ones called to intervene?
So, What Can We Do?
Those who know must teach. Those who have must give.
We must look around and identify needs in our communities. Many of us carry wisdom, skills, and lived experience that others desperately need. Purposeful work along with self-care does not drain us; it nourishes us while serving others.
Could this be the abundant life Jesus spoke of not accumulation, but alignment?
Choosing Purpose Over Possessions
Breaking the cycle of greed begins with choosing purpose over possessions, contentment over competition, and service over status.
We are called to give, while caring for ourselves along the way. True peace and joy do not come from more titles or things, but from living aligned lives.
Let us grow not just for ourselves, but for the next generation.
Because a life of purpose will always be more fulfilling than a life of accumulation.
With grace and gratitude,
Sanchia and team.
If you’re navigating questions of purpose, contentment, or alignment and want support along the way, I’d love to hear from you. 📩 [email protected]
Audio Version
Please listen the audio version Purpose, Contentment, and The Courage To Grow.
Video Version
Please watch and reflect on the video version of Be Still And Grow: Purpose and Contentment