Finding Purpose in Your Life: Go Against-the-flow and Plot a Course

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Have you ever floated down a lazy river? Maybe you’ve done one of those theme park floats—feet up, drink in hand, Bluetooth speaker gently pumping out your chill playlist as you drift along a slow-moving stream. No paddling, no effort (except maybe keeping your iced latte from spilling). Not a care in the world, just good vibes. The current is in control; and it's not in a hurry. Honestly, it’s pretty great. But here’s the thing—has it ever occurred to you that while you’re relaxing, the current is still taking you somewhere?

A few years ago, it struck me how life can sometimes feel a lot like a lazy river. My family and I were floating down the Saco River in northern New Hampshire; it's the real-deal natural lazy river. It was beautiful, peaceful… and we weren’t thinking for a second about where it ended. (Thankfully, there are no waterfalls...that would’ve ruined the vibe and the Bluetooth speaker.) That’s when it hit me: going with the flow in life can lead to some pretty lousy places. So, what can we do to avoid meaningless drifting?

Know when You're Drifting

We can slip into autopilot. Coasting. Drifting. Letting culture carry us downstream. No real intention, no resistance, no questions—just chilling.

But the current of culture doesn’t always carry us to a good place. Without a focus on following Jesus, following each other is like the blind leading the blind. The reality is that Satan is the "god of this world" and he is determined to keep people from realizing he is leading people to destruction.

Jesus said this about Satan, the enemy of our souls:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10 (ESV)

Culture says, take it easy, go with the flow, don’t overthink it. But, if you’re not intentional about where you’re going, you could end up somewhere you never wanted to be. The current often leads to anxiety, emptiness, regret, and brokenness. And here’s the scary part—you might not even realize it’s happening until you wake up one day and ask, “How did I end up here?”

Be Like the Salmon

If life is a river, maybe we need less floating and more swimming.

Ever watched salmon swim upstream? These fish are impressive. They’re jumping up waterfalls, dodging bears, pushing against the current—all to fulfill their purpose. And yeah…they die at the end. But they die having accomplished their mission.

While I’m thankful that we’re not salmon (we smell much better), the analogy holds true. Living with purpose often means resisting the current of culture. It's not always comfortable, but it’s worth it.

The Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy:

“Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 1:13 (ESV)

There's a pattern. A direction. A call to follow—not float.

Learn from Dory

Let’s be honest. Swimming upstream is hard. It’s tiring. It takes courage, conviction, and sometimes coffee.

But here’s the hope: we don’t swim alone.

The Holy Spirit lives within us. He strengthens us. He guides us. He reminds us of when we’re drifting and empowers us to turn back upstream.

And when you feel like quitting—when the current feels too strong, when everyone else seems content to coast—just remember the wisdom of Pixar's great theologian Dory:

“Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming…”

Plot a Course

Let’s get practical. How do we live intentionally in a world that tells us to coast?

Read the Word.
The Bible isn’t a collection of coffee mug quotes. It’s living, active, and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It gives us a pattern to follow and teaches us what it looks like to live the “abundant life” that Jesus promised.
Live by Faith.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith isn’t passive. It’s not an easy ride. It’s trusting God’s direction even when we can’t see the destination. It sometimes means saying "no" to culture and yes to God—even when it’s hard.
Guard What God Has Given You.
Paul continues in 2 Timothy:

“By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” — 2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV)

You’ve been given something precious—your purpose, your calling, your influence. Don’t leave it on the dashboard of life while you float down the lazy river. Guard it. Protect it. Use it.
Grow in Love.
True faith results in love. A life without loving relationships is the number one cause of people feeling purposeless...even if they have accomplished many goals. It starts by receiving God's unconditional love and then sharing it with others.

“Love is patient and kind… it does not envy or boast… it keeps no record of wrongs…” — 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 (ESV)

Remember that love is our witness. You can have perfect theology and still miss the heart of God if you don’t have love.

Living with Purpose is Worth the Struggle

You’re not meant to float through life. You’re not meant to end up somewhere. You’re meant to go somewhere on purpose.

If you’ve been drifting, don't worry...it's not too late to plot a course. The grace of Jesus meets us in our laziness, our lostness, and our riverside regrets. But He won’t leave us there. He’s calling us to something better.

To life. To fullness. To purpose. To a swim that counts.

So, take a breath. Strap on your spiritual flippers. Open God’s Word. Get in community. And just keep swimming.

Want to take your next step in the swim of faith?

Attend church regularly. If you are homebound or unavailable on Sunday mornings, join us online. If you don't live near Grace Capital Church, we encourage you to find a church where you can attend in-person. these two articles will help in your search: 6 Tips for Choosing the Right Church For You and 3 Essential Beliefs all Christian Churches Share
Join a Message-Based Life Group, Bible Journaling Group, or Bible Study. Explore groups here.
Read the Bible. This article will help you figure out where to start: How to Pick a Book of the Bible to Read (grow closer to God & thrive
Get water baptized and let the world know: I’m done floating. I’m following Jesus upstream. If you're not sure that you're ready to be baptized, read this article: How to Tell if Baptism is Right for You