Do you ever wonder, “Why do I exist?” 

I have wondered this many, many times. And I think because I’ve been so honest with God, directly asking Him that very question, He has given me very direct answers from the Bible. I share this with my generation, a generation plagued by insecurity, shame, suicide, and doubt. I share it with the hope that it will set you free, give you purpose, and change your life for the better. 

The Bible says that God created everything for His pleasure. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation‬ ‭4:11‬ ‭KJV)‬. Isn’t that such an interesting question to ask? “God, why did you create the world?” And I believe His first answer is… “For My pleasure.” 

God created everything for His pleasure. For His enjoyment. God didn’t need the world to make Him happy. God was already happy within the relationship we call the Trinity (the mutual love and fellowship of the Father, Son, and Spirit). But in the overflow of God’s love, He created the world for His own joy. 

Now let’s think about what this means for you. This means that you exist to bring God joy. In other words, your life is designed to bring a smile to God’s heart. But what if you’ve been messing up? Living in sin? Well, we know that God’s Son died on the cross to forgive you. The Bible says that God isn’t counting your sins anymore because Jesus died on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:20). That means your sin doesn’t stop the joy of God over your life.

So, does that mean that you can just do whatever you want? Well, you could . . . but being honest with yourself, do you really want to do whatever you want? Does it really feel good to live reckless and lose your self-control? God’s pleasure is meant to set you free from addictions.

When you see His smile, when you close your eyes and feel His warmth, when you feel His pleasure over your life . . . that empowers you to live better. To live clean and pure. To stop watching pornography. To be more generous. To be more forgiving. 

But let’s get the order straight: God created you for His pleasure. That was His decision for you before you were even born. Don’t worry about straightening up your life on your own. Don’t try to fix your life up to impress God. And on that note, don’t live like He’s some distant father who’s far away in the military and only writes a letter to you twice a year.

First, let His present joy wash over you like a waterfall. 

Seriously. Take a minute, close your eyes, and ask God to let you feel how He has always felt about you . . . from when you were a child. An infant in your mother’s womb. Open your heart to this love that is stronger than you’ve ever known. And let that reality forever change the way you live.

And always go back to it. Again and again. 

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