How Do You Find Purpose in Life
The Life-Changing Power of Believing in God’s Purposes for Your Life
How to Find Purpose in Life: Lessons from the Wright Brothers and Faith
We all know the story. On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully tested and flew the first flying machine. In over 5,000 years of recorded history, this was the first time a human being had flown.
Do you know how long their historic flight lasted? It wasn’t hours or even minutes—just 12 seconds. That first flight covered only 120 feet. Yet, less than 50 years later, people were flying around the world, and within 66 years, mankind had landed on the moon.
Behind any great accomplishment, there is almost always a way of thinking and a belief system that makes it possible. Orville and Wilbur’s mindset empowered them to do something no one had ever done before.
“If birds can glide for long periods of time, then… why can’t I?”
“If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance.”
“We were lucky enough to grow up in an environment where there was always much encouragement to children to pursue intellectual interests; to investigate whatever aroused curiosity.”
Why Can’t I? The Power of Faith in Finding Your Purpose
Jesus constantly encouraged His followers to believe. He praised faith when He saw it and was saddened when people put more trust in others’ words than in His.
The biggest factor in how we act is what we truly believe. If you want to know what you really believe, look at how you live.
This is why James addressed the faith/work connection so strongly:
“Faith without works is dead… I’ll show you what I believe by what I do… Faith is completed by works.”(James 2:17-18)
While we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), our faith is meant to grow and develop. It is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of spiritual growth.
Spiritual Growth and the Search for Purpose
Faith and finding purpose in life work in cycles:
We hear or see what God says in the Bible.
We choose to believe what God says is true.
We internalize it—“this applies to me.”
We take action based on that belief.
We work through doubts—“Why isn’t this working? Is this really true?”
We come out stronger, with a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for us.
This cycle repeats as we continue to grow in faith, always guided by Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith(Hebrews 12:2).
Lessons from the Wright Brothers: Overcoming Doubts and Experts
No one in history had done what the Wright brothers attempted. What if they had listened to the experts who said human flight was impossible?
“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” —Lord Kelvin, 1895 (Just eight years before the Wright brothers’ first flight)
History is filled with “experts” who got it wrong:
1828: Dr. Dionysius Larder claimed rail travel was impossible because people “would be unable to breathe.”
1876: Western Union executives dismissed the telephone, saying it was “of no value.”
1903: A banker advised Henry Ford’s lawyer not to invest, calling cars “a novelty—a fad.”
If these pioneers had listened to their doubts or the so-called experts, they would have never fulfilled their purpose.
The Ultimate Authority on Purpose: God
God never makes mistakes. He has all knowledge, and He created you on purpose. If you’re struggling with how to find purpose in life, the best place to start is God’s Word.
The enemy constantly tries to create doubt (Genesis 3), but the smartest thing you can do is believe what God says about your life.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
If you’re searching for your God-given purpose, start by saying yes to God’s plan. Be open to His calling, trust in His timing, and take action based on faith, not fear. Just like the Wright brothers defied doubt and changed history, your journey to a meaningful, purpose-driven life starts with believing in what’s possible through God.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
