What Is the Meaning of Life?

For thousands of years ancient civilizations, all major religions, classical and modern philosophers, and modern psychologist and social scientists have searched for the answer to the question, “What is the meaning of life?”

Feeling that life has meaning is important for experiencing better happiness and having strong mental health. In fact, numerous studies have identified feelings of meaninglessness in life as a high predictor of suicide. This shows that developing meaning and purpose in life is not just a philosophical pursuit, but a foundation for living a strong, resilient life.

If you asked most people if it is important to have a meaningful life, they would probably answer, “Yes”. However, most people would have trouble describing what having a meaningful life really means. Researchers and theologians have found that meaning in life is not some vague concept, but something that can be understood, cultivated, and lived out in practical ways. Let’s look at what science and the Bible have to say.

In 2016, Martela and Steger, two prominent researchers in the field of psychology, published the paper The Three Meanings of Meaning in Life: Distinguishing Coherence, Purpose, and Significance. They recognized the irrefutable evidence that experiencing meaning in life is important for well-being and mental health, however, they state that even people in the field of psychology have trouble defining what having meaning in life is specifically. In their paper, they identified three components of meaning:

Coherence: relates to making sense of what happens in the world. It is the sense that things happen for a reason. When examining events in our lives, we can recognize patterns and make sense of the experiences in our lives.

Purpose: having a ‘why’ in your life, core goals, and a direction for the future.

Significance: the belief that your life matters. You have intrinsic value in the world, not just from what you do, but who you are and the fact that you exist.

As Christians, we have a head start on experiencing meaning. Our creator made us with the need to feel meaning in our life. He also made sure that he gave us instruction and comfort in His Word to help us achieve a sense of meaning.

Coherence:  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 5:28 (NKJV). Things happen for a reason and God is in control.

Purpose: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (KJV). There is an underlying purpose in our lives, to do good works.

Significance: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father…. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 (KJV). God cares for beings that are far more insignificant than humankind. Of course he cares about you. You have great value to him.

Even with these scriptures and promises in the Bible, some Christians, including myself, have struggled with feelings of meaninglessness and left wondering what gives us coherence, purpose, and significance in our lives. I had a successful career in Corporate America and was good at defining and achieving business related goals and objectives. However, when it came to understanding myself and what created meaning in my life outside of work, I struggled.

One of the most popular business and career related books of all time is What Color is Your Parachute: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success. First published in 1970 it was last updated in 2022 and is scheduled for an update in 2025. I read the book a couple of times and struggled with the concept of what constitutes meaningful work. “How am I supposed to figure out what gives me meaning in work and life?"

Even in a Christian context, I struggled with the concept of finding my own, personal meaning in life. In my late teens and early twenties I had numerous people tell me, “God has called me to be a missionary. God has called me to be a pastor.” I grew somewhat frustrated as I hadn’t received any calls from God telling me what I was supposed to do with my life. Reading about famous people of the past couple of centuries, Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Florence Nightingale, for example, didn’t make me feel any better. They all talked about being called to their lifetime of service to others. I didn’t have a clear idea of what I was supposed to do in my life.

A key moment that helped me came a couple of years ago while I was taking the Harvard Business School class Managing Happiness online. In one of the sessions, a guest lecturer expressed how she didn’t like the term “finding your purpose”. She felt that the phrase sounded like there was one purpose in your life and if you turned over enough rocks, you would eventually find that purpose. If you weren’t lucky enough to find and turn over the right rock, you were stuck. She preferred using the term, “developing your purpose”.

As I dug deeper into the Bible, the concept of developing your purpose began to make much more sense to me. There are examples in the Bible both of people who had a dramatic, sudden, supernatural event that directed the rest of their lives but probably more examples of people whose calling and purpose was developed over time.

Dramatic callings

Samuel – as a child, he heard the audible voice of God calling him and mistook it for Eli’s voice.

Moses – God speaking from a burning bush was a dramatic call to service.

Saul of Tarsus – was struck by a bright light and heard the audible voice of God.

Developed purpose over time

Joseph – sold into slavery, put in prison, eventually rose to saving nations from famine.

Esther – became queen due to circumstance, developed her purpose in saving her fellow people “for such a time as this”.

Timothy – introduced to the faith through his mother and grandmother, was mentored by Paul to become a church leader.

Even in the secular world, some people experience dramatic sense of calling or epiphany that leads to their meaning and purpose in life.

Marie Currie – felt drawn to science after her mother’s and sister’s death due to infectious diseases and channeled her grief into studying science.

Mahatma Gandhi – committed himself to fighting injustice through non-violence after being thrown off of a train in South Africa due to his race.

Oprah Winfrey – describes her career as an alignment of her calling to help people live better lives.

If you, like me, have never had a burning bush moment, don’t despair. There are things that you can do to develop meaning in your life.

1.        Seek God through prayer and His Word - Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)

2.        Be faithful in small things - He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10 (NKJV)

 3.        Use your gifts - As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. I Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

4.        Pay attention to your burdens and passions – Nehemiah’s burden for Jerusalem’s walls led him to a leadership position

5.        Listen to wise counsel - Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.Proverbs 15:22

6.        Live for God’s glory – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Science and the Bible are clear, having meaning in your life: coherence, significance, and purpose, is important for greater happiness, strong mental health, and a foundation for a fulfilling life. If you already have a clear idea of your purpose and what gives you meaning in your life, congratulations! If you are still working on developing a strong sense of life’s meaning for yourself, don’t worry. Spend time in self-reflection and prayer and follow the steps in this article to develop your own, unique answer to the question, “What is the meaning of life?”