Embracing Your Sacred Task: Finding Purpose and Drive in Everyday Life

Have you ever wondered what keeps certain individuals driven, even in the face of immense challenges and adversity? In the book Willpower by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney, the authors recount the compelling story of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

Stanley is best known for his relentless search through the African jungles for the missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone. Stanley’s journey was fraught with disappointments—his fiancée jilted him, his family thought him crazy, and his men turned into savages, oppressing natives, forcing Stanley to discipline them harshly.

Yet, Stanley never gave up.

What kept him alive and even genteel in barbaric circumstances?

Ultimately, what sustained Stanley through the jungle, through rejections from his family, fiancée, and the British establishment, was his unwavering belief that he was engaged in a “sacred task.”

Defining Your Sacred Task

So, what is your “sacred task?” A “sacred task” is the fire in the belly of life. It propels you into each day and measures each moment. It is what you want to leave behind when you are gone.

Examples of Sacred Tasks

Moses: His sacred task was to lead Israel out of Egypt and to Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey.

Elijah: He challenged disobedience in the face of intense immorality and ungodliness.

Paul: His sacred task was to be a light to the Gentiles, bringing the life of Christ to people walled off by prejudice.

Each of these figures had something valuable to accomplish before they left the earth. They poured every day into their sacred tasks, often in imperceptible ways.

Discovering Your Sacred Task

You might think, “Of course, God told them what to do.” But God has a sacred task for all of us, and it doesn’t always come with divine proclamations or dramatic missions. Sometimes, your sacred task takes on a mundane hue.

Parenting: If you have small children, raising them well is a sacred task. Teaching them who they are, how to serve the Lord, and care for others is unparalleled in its importance.

Compassion: Many people carry the weight of loneliness or struggle with persistent medical conditions. A sacred task could be alleviating their suffering in the smallest of ways. A friendly voice over the phone, a visit to a hospital or care center, or being a listening ear to someone grieving—these acts carry profound sacredness.

Education and Writing: Sharing a lifetime of accumulated wisdom through teaching or writing is a sacred task. If you have something positive and helpful to share, find the way to do it. For me, this is my sacred task—to teach and write in a way that helps others see truth and a better life.

Embrace Your Sacred Task

Don’t discount what you do each day. Decide how you will change the portion of the world you live in and then make it your sacred task to make it better.

Reflect on your life: What drives you? What do you want to leave behind? Your sacred task might be closer than you think. Embrace it, nurture it, and let it guide you through life’s journey.