When It Feels Like Your Life Doesn’t Matter (But It Still Does)
Why your pain, your work, and your life still matter
Hey, I’m Pastor Chris McKinney. I write about faith, purpose, and the messy middle where most of us live. If this encourages you, consider subscribing for free or becoming a paid supporter. You can also fuel my writing (and coffee habit) with a one-time gift.
I’ve had mornings where the weight of the world crushed my chest before my feet hit the floor. The to-do list was endless. The noise was loud. And deep down, I wondered… does any of this matter?
Maybe you’ve asked the same question. You wake up, pour the coffee, push through your routines — but something’s off. You’re doing all the “right” things, but inside?
You feel like you’re drifting.
That ache isn’t weakness.
It’s a reminder: you were created for more than survival.
We all want to know:
Am I doing what I was made for?
Will my suffering count for something?
Is my life building toward anything that lasts?
Purpose isn’t hype. It’s oxygen. Without it, our souls suffocate.
Pain Has Purpose
A few years ago, I was passed over for a position I really wanted.
As a young man, I dreamed of doing full-time ministry at the church where I’d spent my formative years. It was a large church and, in my mind, was doing the most good in the community. I had long-standing relationships with many people who attended there, and it seemed like the most logical step.
I’d prayed about it. Worked toward it. Felt like it was the natural next step.
And when positions opened, I wasn’t on the shortlist of people to move into those roles.
When I learned they chose someone else, I smiled on the outside but was crushed inside.
Not because I thought I deserved it, but because I thought that was the assignment. It made sense. It aligned with my passions. It would’ve provided stability for my family. It was what I knew God had called me to.
But nothing changed. I stayed right where I was — same work, same challenges, same quiet obedience. And I started asking questions like: Did I miss it? Did I waste all that time preparing for something that never came?
That’s when Joseph’s story hit me differently.
Joseph had every reason to feel forgotten.
He did the right thing — resisted temptation, stayed faithful — and still landed in prison. Even after helping someone, he was left behind for two more years (Genesis 41:1).
But scripture says:
“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
(Genesis 39:21, ESV)
God didn’t need Joseph to be promoted to be with him. He was just as present in the prison as in the palace. That changed how I saw my situation. I didn’t get to serve in my desired role, but got something better:
I learned to rely on God’s timing
I learned that sometimes your calling is not location-dependent.
A reminder that obedience isn’t wasted - even when it’s invisible.
You’re Not Just Filling Time
Purpose is more than a career. It’s more than a hustle, content, or a dream job.
Purpose is living like you were sent.
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
That means your words, presence, and even your suffering are not random. They’re kingdom assignments. You don’t have to be famous to be faithful. You don’t need a platform to make a difference.
You must wake up and say, “Here I am, Lord.”
Maybe you’ve felt this lately:
You’re going through the motions
You’re exhausted but don’t know why
You’ve stopped dreaming
You feel invisible, like your story doesn’t matter
If that’s you, hear this:
You are not disqualified.
You are not forgotten.
You are not finished.
God does some of His deepest work in hidden places.
What to Do When You Feel Stuck
Seek God’s Presence
Get into your prayer closet and ask your Heavenly Father, “What does faithfulness look like today?”
Reflect On What’s Still In Your Hands
You may have lost something, such as a job, a dream, or a relationship, but what hasn’t been taken?
Purpose often begins in what’s left.
Serve Where You Are
Purpose is rarely discovered in isolation. Start where you are — in your home, community, and local church.
Remember Who You Are
You are called
You are sent
You are loved
And your life preaches even when your mouth doesn’t.
A Final Word
If your eyes opened this morning, your story isn't over. Breath in your lungs means purpose in your life. Even if all you see is dirt right now, God sees the seeds.
And in His timing, they will break the surface. So don’t quit. Don’t shut down. Don’t assume it’s meaningless. Nothing planted in faith is ever wasted.
Take the next step and ask the Lord to reignite your sense of purpose. Then look around. Who can you encourage today?
Your purpose isn’t stuck — it’s waiting on the other side of obedience.
Loved this: ‘Purpose is more than a career. It’s more than a hustle, content, or a dream job.
Purpose is living like you were sent.’
I have an Elizabeth Elliot quote on my desk that has a similar tone:
‘This job has been given for me to do, Therefore it is a gift. Therefore it is a privilege. Therefore it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore it is to be done gladly, as it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in another, God looks for faithfulness.’
This showed up right on time. Of course it did.