Everyone, no matter where they come from, what their status is, or what their past is, wants to live a life that is important, purposeful, and happy. This desire spans continents, generations, and professions. It goes beyond getting rich or famous, having fun for a short time, or even being sad or confused. The journey to fulfillment shapes our destinies, decides our legacies, and affects every choice we make.
There is one important principle at the heart of this trip: true happiness is never an accident. It comes from living life with awareness and a distinct sense of purpose, identity, and destiny. Apostle Joshua Selman’s amazing lecture “Finding Fulfilment” at Trinity House in Lagos goes deep into this idea with both depth and compassion. The message is for anyone who wants to live a meaningful life, not only those who are celebrating an anniversary or milestone. A life that will have meant something much more than personal gain when the last chapter is written.
Also, as was said many times during the lecture, everyone can find their own way to happiness. You are welcome to join a community of purpose, like the Church of Sermons, no matter what your past or present circumstances are. There, you can find your own unique position in God’s great tale.
Now that we have received this life-changing information, let’s go toward true fulfillment.
Gratitude and reflection are the keys to happiness
Every important journey starts with thankfulness, which is knowing how far you’ve come and how God has guided you every step of the way. As Apostle Selman starts his message, he asks everyone there to stop and thank God for His faithfulness. He says that the 15 years of Trinity House are not just a number, but also a sign of God’s leadership. He asks everyone to raise their hands in thankfulness, showing that a grateful heart is the best place to start building a life of purpose.
This way of saying thank you isn’t just for special events. We should all start with a moment of thought. Think about the things that have happened, the people we’ve met, and the things that have happened behind the scenes that have brought us to this point. At that point, the desire for fulfillment is based not on restlessness but on deep thankfulness for the journey so far.
What do the pillars of destiny, purpose, potential, and fulfillment mean?
Language is what makes things clear. People often look for meaning without really understanding what purpose or destiny are. Apostle Selman gives a clear description of the main parts that make up the structure of a happy life:
Destiny: The Path That Was Chosen for You
He says that destiny is more than just a vague goal or yearning. It is God’s plan for each person to follow, based on his or her intelligence and plan. It is also God’s plan for all life to end, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:30. Your Creator planned your journey, thus your destiny is not a coincidence.
Purpose: the reason for being
The reason or purpose behind something is its purpose. It’s also the unique role that each person or thing plays in the big picture of life. Purpose tells us why we do the things we do, what we love, and what we value most. It’s not only about your goals or dreams; it’s about knowing where you fit into God’s big plan.
Your potential is the natural abilities, skills, and traits you have that can be improved and used to help yourself and others. Everyone has potential, but it needs to be found, nurtured, and invested in so that it can bear fruit.
Fulfillment is the deep happiness that comes from living a good life
Getting things or reaching goals isn’t enough for true fulfillment. It is the joy and peace that come from knowing you have lived well, serving God’s purposes and helping people. You know deep down that your life has meant something eternal.
The Universal Search: What Drives Us?
Why do people want money, success, friends, and respect? Both behavioral psychology and the Bible say that all human behavior is based on basic urges. If we understand these things, we can stop being unhappy and focus on what really brings us peace and happiness.
Apostle Selman listed six reasons that everyone has:
- Security is the intense desire for safety and stability, whether it means money, emotions, or health.
- Variety or Newness: the need for fresh experiences and people.
- Meaning: the need to be seen, heard, and respected.
- Love and Acceptance: the need to fit in and be valued.
- Growth is wanting to learn, grow, and become more.
- Impact and Contribution: the desire to change things and leave a mark on the world.
When you follow these motivations without God, they often lead to frustration. You might get rich and still feel empty, or you can get famous and still feel alone. Like running on a treadmill, the world’s search for happiness is continually moving but never getting there.
But Jesus says there is another way. “I give you peace, not as the world gives.” Allowing Christ to meet these needs in ways that go beyond what we can understand is the only way to find true peace and happiness. When you look for God’s path to happiness, you will find a serenity that is full, safe, and unchanging.
Five Questions That Will Change Your Life: A Guide to Happiness
A happy life doesn’t just happen by luck. It is the result of dealing with and answering five basic questions:
1. Who am I? (Identity)
Identity is what makes life worth living. There are a lot of voices in the world that are trying to tell you who you are: social media, family, culture, and history. If you don’t use God’s Word to define yourself, you’ll get confused. You find your true self in Christ. The Bible says that you are loved, chosen, and called to do great things. You are God’s child, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a king, and a priest.
Solving the problem of identification brings healing, confidence, and the strength to face anything. It lets you deal with what other people think and say about you, since you know that your true worth is based on what God thinks of you.
2. Where do I come from? (Source)
Knowing where you come from can affect how loyal and confident you are. You are not just the outcome of your genes or your surroundings; you were sent by God and are maintained by heaven. This information lets you break away from the limits of where you grew up and where you live. Like Moses did when he faced Pharaoh, you can face any problem knowing that you are sent by God.
3. What am I doing here? (Purpose)
Purpose answers the most important question about why you are here. What makes you get out of bed every morning? Why were you given a certain family, city, or generation? As a Christian, your main purpose should be to worship God, help people, and spread God’s kingdom. This means doing the Great Commission, which includes reaching out to the lost, teaching the church, and changing society. It also means understanding your personal part in that bigger calling.
Ambition might help you reach your personal goals, but purpose is always about helping others.
4. What can I do? (Potential and giving)
Everyone has potentialāgifts, skills, and abilities that are just waiting to be found and improved. Don’t think of your gifts as unimportant or compare them to others. That’s the key. Instead, recognize, value, grow, and use them for God’s glory.
The story of the widow’s oil shows how frequently what we throw away as “nothing but” is exactly what God wants to use to boost us and others. You can make a difference with your gifts, whether they are the ability to lead, create, teach, or calm.
5. Where am I going? (Eternal point of view)
Lastly, you need to have an eternal point of view to be happy. Compared to eternity, life on Earth is short. What you do for Christ and others is the only thing that will last, no matter how much you have. The most important question is concerning what will happen to you forever. “Teach us to count our days so that we can use our hearts to get wise.” The wise spend their time wisely to help both God and people.
Ending the Cycle: From Anger to Happiness
Why do so many people, including those who believe, still feel frustrated even after going to church, listening to sermons, and working toward their goals? The answer lies in not comprehending or ignoring these five questions. People tell us to define ourselves by our accomplishments, possessions, and popularity. But no amount of success outside of yourself can make up for a life that is not in line with God’s purpose, identity, and destiny.
Apostle Selman says that you shouldn’t live under the stress of trying to meet other people’s expectations or going for goals that aren’t good enough. Knowing who you are, why you are here, and where you are heading is what brings you true happiness. It is the tranquility that comes from giving yourself up to Christ and living according to His plan.
The Call to Give Up and Start Over
The message is based on a strong invitation, an altar call that is meant for both the seeker and the long-time believer. The first step toward fulfillment is to give up the idea that you can do everything on your own and embrace Jesus as your Lord, Savior, and King. It is to admit that only Jesus can fill the emptiness inside, forgive sins, break chains, and set free the destiny that has been imprisoned away.
Apostle Selman’s call is soft but important. No one is too bad to be saved. There is no one whose life is too far gone to be salvaged. There is no past that can’t be fixed. At the cross, anyone can start anew and find out who they are, what their purpose is, and what their future holds in Christ. Anyone, anywhere, can accept this invitation, including you. And if you want to, you can join the Church of Sermons and be part of a community where you can grow spiritually and personally.
Release Potential: From Finding to Using
There are four important steps to unlocking your God-given potential: discovery, appreciation, development, and deployment.
- Discovery: Take the time to honestly think about your skills, what comes easily to you, and what other people notice in you. What you’ve turned down or missed out on often holds your full potential.
- Thankfulness: Be thankful for your gifts. Know that what seems normal to you is amazing in God’s hands.
- Make a promise to get better in your skills by learning, practicing, and getting help from others. Oil is valuable, but it can only power the engines of society when it has been refined.
- Deployment: Use your skills to aid other people. When you use your potential to serve God and other people instead of promoting yourself, you fulfill your purpose.
Your life becomes a channel for blessing, change, and kingdom effect when you go through this process.
The Power of Legacy: Living with the End in Mind
Your legacy is based on how well you live, not how long you live. It’s about the stories that people tell after you’re gone, the doors you open, and the effect you have that lasts long after you go. The most important thing to leave behind is a legacy of living for God, helping others, and making the world a better place.
People remember both the rich fool and the smart, humble man. Still, it celebrates the person who lived a meaningful life with humility and purpose. Your legacy is made up of every choice you make, every decent thing you do, and every honest word you say. You can now choose the legacy you want to leave.
The only way to be truly happy is via Jesus
Jesus Christ is not a principle, but a person who is at the core of fulfillment. The rest is not as important. He is the only one who can forgive sins, heal brokenness, give people hope, and give them the strength to fulfill their destiny. A daily relationship with Him is what really makes you happy. In Him, all of the reasons people have for wanting to feel safe, important, loved, grow, and give back are met.
“Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” he still says. This rest is more than just relaxing; it’s the deep shalomāpeace, fullness, and purposeāthat only Christ can give.
You have until today to make up your mind. Anyone can begin again. Anyone can come. Anyone can join the Church of Sermons and look for a meaningful life with other people who are looking for the same thing.
The Call for Advancement, Blessing, and Prophecy
The talk ends not simply with words, but with blessings and prophecies that every locked door will be opened, every potential will be unleashed, and that the next season of your life will be better than the last. That your kids will be strong, that your business will perform well, that links with heaven will help you reach new heights, and that you will walk in more and more beauty from now on.
It is a call to action, not to stay still. Don’t be afraid; have faith. Life with purpose, passion, and an impact, not just existing.
In conclusion, your journey to fulfillment starts today
Not everyone can go on the route to fulfillment. This right is given to every child of God, and everyone is welcome to join. As you think about your own life, keep the five questions in mind: Who am I? Where do I come from? Why am I here? What can I do? Where am I going? Use them as a guide for how to get around each day.
If you’re fatigued, upset, or confused, know that you’re not alone. There is rest, renewal, and a new start in Christ. Your life can show God’s love and power in the world via faith, prayer, and giving up.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to go this way by yourself. The Church of Sermons welcomes everyone, no matter where they come from or what story they tell, to join, grow in faith, and live a life of true fulfillment together.
You have the seed in your hands. Now it is. Find your place in God’s story and live a life that is important, purposeful, and will last forever. The world is waiting for the brightness that only you can bring.
