What On Earth Am I Here For?

Dr. Chris Stroble / Published September 15, 2025

I write in the Preface of my award-winning book, Helping Teen Moms Graduate, that one of the two most pronounced feelings that surface when I think of my childhood is shame. No one said anything. I just felt like I was not good enough and the source was my birthright.

I was born to an unwed teenage mother and growing up in a Baptist church in the South, the church shamed mothers who had an out-of-wedlock birth. I inherited that shame. 

It wasn’t until I was in my thirties, when I read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, that I started to consider that maybe I wasn’t a mistake. Maybe God did have a purpose for me, even though I was born out of wedlock. I was sitting at the kitchen table, reading my morning devotional from The Purpose Driven Life, and it was as if God was speaking directly to me through the pages: You are not a mistake.

That was 21 years ago. Now, I have a clearer understanding of what on earth am I here for. I have a better understanding of my purpose.

What about you? Do you know why you're here? Do you know what is your purpose? If not, don't worry. Rick Warren's, The Purpose Driven Life, is a 40-day spiritual guide that will help you find the answer to life's most important question: "What am I here for?" 

In Chapter 1, Warren makes a few important points before delving into the five purposes.

1.    It all starts with God. It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

2.    You are not an Accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke or nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it. Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. He thought of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing at this very moment. You are alive because God wanted to create you!

3.    What drives your life? Many people are driven by guilt. Many people are driven by resentment and anger. Many people are driven by fear. Many people are driven by materialism. Many people are driven by the need for approval. These are other forces that can drive your life but all lead to the same dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life. This 40-day journey will show you how to live a purpose-driven life. There are five benefits of living a purpose-driven life:

  • Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life.
  • Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
  • Knowing your purpose focuses your life.
  • Knowing your purpose motivates your life.
  • Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity

4.    Made to Last Forever. This life is not all there is. Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death—in eternity—than you will here. Earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. This life is preparation for the next.


5.  Seeing Life from God's view. The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God's view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment. Life on earth is a test. This metaphor is seen in stories throughout the Bible. God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in the Bible. Life is a test and trust. 

4.    Life is a temporary assignment. This world is not your home. To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as he sees it. 

5.    The reason for everything. It’s all for Him. The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. We bring God glory by worshiping him. We bring God glory by loving other believers. We bring God glory by becoming like Christ. We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts. We bring God glory by telling others about him. It’s all for him.

Warren then delves into 5 Purposes during the 40-day spiritual journey:

  • Purpose #1     You Were Planned for God’s Purpose
  • Purpose #2     You Were Formed for God’s Family
  • Purpose #3     You Were Created to Become Like Christ
  • Purpose #4     You Were Shaped for Serving God
  • Purpose #5     You Were Made for a Mission


So, you ask, "What on earth am I here for?" Rick Warren’s 40-day spiritual journey guide in The Purpose Driven Life will enable you to discover God’s purpose for your life. You will understand the big picture--how all the pieces of your life fit together. Having this perspective will reduce your stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and, most important, prepare you for eternity.

Ready to begin your 40-day spiritual journey? You can start today.

Always in your corner, 

Dr. Chris