Hello my dear friend,

There’s a particular kind of 2am prayer that feels very midlife:

“God… what do You actually want me to do now?”

The kids are taller, the house is quieter, work may feel either too full or strangely empty, and your body doesn’t bounce back the way it used to.

You love God, but you can’t shake the question: “What is God’s purpose for my life in this season?”

If that’s you, take a deep breath. God is not playing hide-and-seek with your purpose. His heart is to lead you, gently and faithfully, as you walk through midlife with Him.

Here are seven gentle ways to hear His leading — no spiritual gymnastics required.

1. Start With Who You Are in Christ, Not What You Do

Before you worry about doing, remember who you already are:

• Deeply loved.

• Chosen.

• Forgiven.

• Created in Christ for good works He prepared in advance.

Your value doesn’t rise and fall with your productivity, your dress size, your income, your children’s choices or your ministry title. When you start from this secure place, asking about God’s purpose for your life becomes less about proving yourself and more about responding to love.

A simple prayer for this step:

“Lord, remind me who I am to You, before I plan what I do for You.”

2. Listen to Scripture With Midlife Ears

You may have read the Bible for years, but midlife brings a new perspective. Stories of people called later in life, of long seasons of waiting, of God using “ordinary” faithfulness — they all land differently now.

Try this:

1. Choose one Gospel story or psalm each week.

2. Read it slowly and ask, “What does this say to a woman in my season?”

3. Note any words, themes or phrases that seem to shimmer for you.

As you keep showing up, you may notice certain ideas repeating — courage, rest, mentoring, hospitality, creativity, justice. These recurring themes can be clues to God’s leading.

3. Pay Attention to What Makes You Righteously Angry or Deeply Alive

Not every strong feeling is from God, but He often uses desire and holy discontent to nudge us towards our calling.

• What breaks your heart that you wish you could help change?

• Where do you feel a quiet fire in your bones — teaching, writing, advocacy, prayer, encouragement, practical care?

• When do you lose track of time because you’re so immersed in something that matters to you?

These aren’t random. They may be connected to the “good works” God prepared specifically with you in mind.

Take a journal page and write, “When I feel most alive in God, I am…” then finish the sentence ten different ways.

4. Review Your Story: Threads of Grace Across the Decades

God’s purpose for your life is rarely a straight, tidy line. It’s more like a tapestry — and midlife is when you finally step back far enough to see the pattern.

Look back over your life in decades or seasons:

• Childhood and teenage years.

• Early adulthood.

• Young family, study or early career.

• The years that feel blurry but significant.

Ask yourself:

• What roles did I often find myself in (listener, organiser, encourager, teacher, creator)?

• When did others affirm something in me that I brushed off?

• Where did I see God at work, even in painful seasons?

You may discover that your “random” experiences and skills actually form a preparation path for this current chapter.

5. Notice the People God Keeps Bringing to You

One simple way to discern calling in midlife is to look at who keeps finding you.

• Do younger women seek you out for advice or prayer?

• Are you often drawn to encourage weary carers, teachers, nurses or parents?

• Do you find yourself befriending newcomers, outsiders or those who feel invisible?

Sometimes God’s purpose for your life is hiding in plain sight — in the people already crossing your path. Pay attention to the conversations that leave you both tired and deeply satisfied in the best way.

Ask, “Lord, are these the people You’re particularly asking me to love in this season?”

6. Take One Small Risk of Obedience

We often want a clear map from God before we move. But more often, He gives us a next step, not a full blueprint.

Instead of waiting for absolute certainty, try a tiny, doable step of faith:

• Offer to lead or co-lead a small group.

• Start a fortnightly coffee catch-up with one woman you’re mentoring.

• Share a short encouragement online.

• Volunteer once a month in an area that fits your gifts.

Let the question shift from “What if I get it wrong?” to “What might God do with even this small yes?”

God is kind enough to redirect you if you wander. He’s not demanding perfection; He’s inviting partnership.

7. Hold Your Plans Lightly and Your Shepherd Tightly

Even when you follow all the “right” steps, life can still surprise you. Health changes, family needs, job shifts and external events can all alter your path.

The good news? Purpose is not a fragile, rigid plan that shatters when life changes. Purpose is walking with your Shepherd, trusting that He knows the terrain even when you don’t.

Practically, that might look like:

• Regularly bringing your plans back to God and asking for His peace or redirection.

• Allowing some dreams to be “for later” or “for heaven” without calling them wasted.

• Remembering that unseen faithfulness — prayer, care, quiet obedience — matters deeply in God’s kingdom.

You’re Allowed to Ask Big Questions With a Soft Heart

If you’re whispering, “Lord, what is Your purpose for my life now?” you’re already closer than you think. Your question is a sign of love and trust, not failure.

So start small:

• Re-anchor your identity in Christ.

• Listen to Scripture with fresh, midlife ears.

• Notice your holy desires and patterns.

• Take one tiny risk of obedience.

You don’t have to overhaul your whole life to come into alignment with God’s purpose. You can simply walk with Him, one gentle, courageous step at a time — and watch how He weaves this midlife chapter into a story more beautiful than anything you could have scripted on your own.

Until we chat again...

Blessings and hugs to you my dear friend,

Dianne xx