Your God-Given Design: Embracing How God Made You
Reflection of Chapter Two of The Purpose Driven Life
In the previous reflection, I sat with the idea that purpose is not something we manufacture, it is something we receive. That truth brought relief, but it also raised a deeper, more personal question for me:
If purpose is given, not created…
what does that say about how we were created?
Chapter two of The Purpose Driven Life presses directly into this question, inviting us to look not only at why we exist, but at how intentionally we were designed.
The Search for Something More
In a world that often feel chaotic and random, it’s easy to wonder whether our lives carry genuine meaning, or whether we are simply the result of chance.
That question becomes especially tender when we struggle to accept certain parts of ourselves: our personalities, our sensitivities, our rhythms, or the traits that seem to set us apart.
Yet and still there is something about the human experience that sets us apart from every other form of life.
Unlike any other creature, we actively search for purpose. We ask the deeper questions like:
Why am I here?
What is my role in this world?
What makes my life meaningful?
If we were truly the result of random cosmic events, or a fortunate collision of particles, would we carry this persistent longing for meaning? The fact that we seek purpose suggests there is intention. We are wired to look beyond mere survival and productivity toward significance.
That longing points to something greater than accident or chance.
Intentionally Crafted & Lovingly Designed
Scripture offers a radically different perspective of human existence. Rather than presenting us with cosmic accidents, the Bible reveals us as intentionally designed beings, crafted with purpose and love. Psalms 139:16 reveals this intimate truth: “You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!”
Before the first star was formed and before the earth’s foundations were laid, God had you in mind. As Ephesians 1:4 reminds us, “Long before He laid down the earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love.”
The motivation behind this kind of creation is not necessity or obligation, it’s creativity and love. God did not create you because He had to, He created you because He wanted to.
As Scripture tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Your existence flows from that love, making you a deliberate expression of divine creativity.
The Struggle to Accept Our Design
Knowing we are intentionally created is one thing. Accepting how we are designed is often another challenge entirely.
At age 39, living in a new state and building a life coaching business, I find myself wrestling with aspects of my personality that I’ve long viewed as limitations rather than intentional design.
My introverted nature, for instance, has often felt like a disadvantage. In a world that celebrates extroversion, networking events, constant engagement, surface-level conversation, being energy-sensitive can feel like a burden.
I process the world deeply. I notice subtleties others might miss. I crave meaningful conversation over small talk, and for years these preferences made me feel misunderstood, even labeled as “weird”.
The temptation has always been to see these traits as flaws to overcome rather than gifts to steward.
Reframing Our “Limitations”
What if the very traits we struggle to accept are actually essential parts of our design?
What if the things we label as weaknesses are strengths waiting to be understood and properly channeled?
Introverts often listen deeply. They create safe spaces for others to be seen and heard. They notice emotional undercurrents that others overlook. In a world full of noise someone who processes thoughtfully and speaks intentionally brings rate and valuable perspective.
The sensitivity that feels overwhelming in crowded rooms may be the same sensitivity that allows for empathy, discernment and meaningful one-on-one connection.
Depth is not a deficiency. In a culture starved for authenticity, it is a gift.
Living Fully In Your Design
The goal here is to live fully within your design.
That requires self-acceptance, wisdom, and creativity. It means choosing environments where our natural rhythms can flourish rather than forcing ourselves into molds that were never meant for us to fit in.
For the energy-sensitive introvert, this might mean building a life or business that values depth over volume, presence over performance, and meaningful connection over constant output.
It also may mean recognizing that the people you’re meant to serve are often drawn to the very qualities you’ve been tempted to hid.
Your “weirdness” may be the invitation
The Freedom of Acceptance
There is a exhilarating freedom in realizing that your are not an accident.
When you truly believe that your personality, sensitivities, and way of processing the world are intentional, everything begins to shift. Traits that once felt like burdens become features. Differences become direction.
Isaiah 44:2 offers this reassurance: "“I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.”
The God who formed you knew the challenges you face, the strengths you would need, and the role you would play. Nothing about you surprised Him.
A Resource That Helped Ground This Truth
If you’re walking through similar reflections, and would like to join me on this journey of finding purpose you can pick up your copy of The Purpose Driven Life here!
Embracing Your Unique Contribution
Your introversion.
Your depth.
Your sensitivity.
These are not obstacles to overcome, they are gifts to be stewarded.
In a world that often values speed over wisdom and noise over nuance, your design offers something deeply needed.
You are not an accident.
You are carefully crafted, lovingly designed, and purposefully created.
The sooner you allow that truth to settle in, not just in your mind but in your heart, the sooner you can begin living fully as who you were always meant to be.
This reflection is part of my 40-day journey through The Purpose Driven Life. You can explore the full series here → Purpose Driven Life Hub
