Welcome to Dear Father Thomas, a weekly column where readers share their questions about faith, family, relationships, and life’s challenges. Each week, Father Thomas offers practical wisdom and spiritual guidance rooted in Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
DEAR FATHER THOMAS: I’m not sure why God put me here. I go to Mass, I pray, I work hard, and I try to be a good person, but most days I just feel like I’m going through the motions. I see other people who seem to know exactly what they’re called to do, while I feel stuck, ordinary, and forgotten. I’m afraid my life doesn’t really matter. How do I know God’s purpose for me? — SEARCHING IN SILENCE
DEAR SEARCHING IN SILENCE: My dear friend, thank you for writing. More people carry this question than you might imagine. One of the greatest misunderstandings about God’s will is believing it must arrive as a dramatic moment or extraordinary mission. For most of us, God’s purpose is revealed quietly, one faithful step at a time. Remember the words of our Lord: “Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much.” God often prepares us for tomorrow by asking us to be faithful today.
Your purpose is not measured by how many people know your name or how impressive your accomplishments appear. Your purpose begins with becoming the saint God created you to be. Every act of kindness, every honest day’s work, every prayer whispered in faith, every sacrifice made out of love has eternal value.
The enemy wants you to believe that an ordinary life is a meaningless life. Christ teaches the opposite. He spent most of His earthly life in the hidden simplicity of Nazareth before His public ministry began. Holiness often grows where the world sees nothing remarkable. So instead of asking, “What is my grand purpose?” ask, “Lord, who needs my love today?” That question has led countless saints exactly where God wanted them to be.
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, when we feel lost or uncertain, remind us that our worth is found in being Your beloved children. Give us the grace to trust that You are leading us, even when the path is hidden. Help us to be faithful in the ordinary moments, knowing that nothing done with love is ever wasted. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Until next time, may God bless you and your family.
Have a question for Father Thomas? Email us at dearfather@ycvf.org. While we can’t respond to every message personally, your letter could be selected for a future episode.
