~ written by Connie Dunmyer
I often wonder about my purpose in this life. Oh I do know that I am loved by God. I am His beloved child. I’ve taken several spiritual gifts surveys. I have some pretty useful gifts. But am I living out my purpose?
There are some other people who probably thought their lives didn’t much matter … thought that they had little purpose in the grand scheme of things.
Leah
Leah was the first wife of Jacob. Jacob was tricked into marrying her. Jacob thought he was marrying her sister, Rachel. Rachel was considered beautiful. Leah was considered “plain”. Her name means “weary” or “tired”. Some interpretations say the name Leah means “unloved”. Even though she gave Jacob his first 4 sons, she was not the favored wife. Leah was the mother of Judah – the fourth of Jacob’s 12 sons.
Judah
Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob. The fourth-born did not carry any authority in the family structure. He wouldn’t have received much in the way of an inheritance and would have naturally been expected to submit to and serve the eldest brother, Reuben. But Judah is clearly a convincing speaker. It was Judah who convinced his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery. And then many years later, when Benjamin (the new favorite of Jacob) was found with the “stolen items” in his bag, it was Judah who gave the impassioned speech that caused Joseph to no longer be able to hide his identity from his brothers. (Genesis 42-45).
Joseph
Joseph was the 11th of the 12 sons of Jacob. He was Jacob’s favorite because he was the firstborn of his favorite wife, Rachel. Joseph’s brothers were very jealous of him because of the attention and favoritism of their father upon Joseph. Keep in mind, in that culture the eldest son usually received all the attention and favor. Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. But instead of killing him, they sold Joseph into slavery, and he ends up in Egypt working for Potiphar. Later, because he remained upright, he was thrown into prison for crimes he did not commit.
What “I” see when I read these stories are lives not living up to their potential – to a Godly plan and purpose.
But God sees something quite different.
In my last blog, “The Eyes Have It”, I wrote about one of the names of God – Jehovah-jireh. We translate that to “The Lord will provide” – which is correct – but it’s only correct because of its literal meaning – which is “the Lord will see” or “the Lord Who sees”. God will provide because of what He sees. It affects His heart – His love for His babies.
Also, God’s vision is eternal. He not only sees the temporal of what we are going through, or who we are, today. But He sees where we fit, and where all our struggles fit, in eternity. Not only for us personally – but for the world as a whole.
For instance, take a look at our three people at the top. If you were to read the storied lives of these 3 people – who would you think would be in the lineage of the Savior of the world? Honestly, if I had to pick of the three, I probably would have thought Joseph would’ve been in that line.
But God chose the line of Judah… the guy that sold his brother into slavery… but also the guy who loved his father so much, he was willing to give his own life for the life of the favored brother, even though Judah believed his brother Benjamin was a thief. Yeah – that guy. Jesus is even called the “Lion of Judah”. And as such, even Leah, Judah’s mom, lived out her purpose in relative temporal obscurity. But SHE gave birth to the lineage of Jesus – not her beautiful, favored sister.
God sees.
We do not.
Thus, the need, the requirement of faith.
I keep coming back to this verse:
2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
When I consider my human vision, my idea of my purpose, it’s important to note that quite often it’s the struggle, it’s the pain, it’s the problem that ultimately reveals the answer which I did not see before. It’s in the refining fires of life that vision can be revealed or restored.
- Abraham and Isaac did not SEE the Ram of sacrifice until AFTER the test/struggle.
- Twice Hagar did not SEE the Spring of Water until AFTER the thirst/dehydration/struggle.
- Jacob did not SEE the “face of God” until AFTER his wrestling/struggle.
- Joseph did not SEE the meaning of his dream until AFTER the slavery/prison/struggle.
- The Israelites did not SEE the Promised land until AFTER 40 years of desert/struggle.
- Peter, James and John did not SEE the fish until AFTER the all-night-fish-a-thon/struggle.
- Saul, who became Paul, did not SEE the connection of his great knowledge of the law with the grace of the Savior until AFTER he was blinded.
I must “Fix my eyes NOT on what is seen – but what is NOT seen.” I must bow to the vision of the Eternal Father – Who SEES my purpose and my place in eternity.
I cannot SEE the answer, the ram, the spring, the face of God, the promise, the dream, the fish, the meaning... UNTIL there is struggle, and often until it is over. The answer is there ALL the time. But my eyes are darkened. Or my eyes fix on the wrong thing.
1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Below is a song. It's also stories. Stories of how God SEES and redeems for His Purpose that which human beings are blinded to, and typically discount and discard. Jehovah-Jireh. The God Who Sees. The God Who Loves. The God Who Provides His Purpose.
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© 2026: Connie F. Dunmyer, All Rights Reserved.