Why Are So Many Christian Young Adults Lacking Direction?

By: Trent Emmack, Admissions Counselor and Event Speaker for Unbound

Introduction

Why are so many Christian young adults lacking direction? And what can we do to help them figure out their next step? 

In this article I talk about two developments that I think are having a negative impact on our young adults’ sense of direction. Then, I present a thought pattern that we can promote to counter the negative effects of these developments.

Quick Answer: Young adults today struggle with direction because social media promotes unrealistic expectations, and AI-driven change makes long-term planning feel impossible. But purpose and direction are both things you build through intentional action, not things you wait to happen to you.

The Exception and The Rule

To start, I have a question for you.

Have you noticed that as a group, young adults are struggling to figure out what they want to do with their lives?

Sure, there are the exceptions. Those individuals who have seemingly had their calling figured out since infancy. But they are definitely the minority; again, the exceptions.

And then there’s the rule: otherwise known as the rest of us. 

Finding purpose has never been an easy thing. But it does seem to have become more difficult in the modern world. 

Things like decision fatigue (or fear?), paralysis by analysis, and a flat out refusal to take a next step without being able to see the full picture are plaguing our young people. Why?

Why So Many Young Adults Lack Purpose and Direction

There are two influential things I think we can point to to help answer the question, “why are so many Christian young adults lacking direction?” 

Social Media

The first thing that comes to mind and often receives most of our reflexive annoyance is social media and the internet. 

With the rise of social media, we’ve seen those exceptional individuals who have a clear calling broadcast across the internet and into each of our feeds. 

For a generation that has grown up in an environment where these individuals are constantly on display, there’s a question worth asking:

Do you think it’s easy for young adults to subconsciously pick up the idea that these exceptional individuals are the normal ones, and that they are abnormal in their lack of direction?

This idea creates a dubious sense that the normal thing is to have a purpose or direction that appears spontaneously and in its entirety, instead of being built through a process of trial and error.

Research backs this up. A 2022 report from Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project found that over 36% of young adults frequently experience anxiety and hopelessness about the future, often tied to pressure around direction and achievement (Harvard – On Edge Report).

Artificial Intelligence

We can also point to the general effect the tech boom, information age, and looming AI revolution have had on the job market. 

Ever since industrialization, the job market has been a shifting thing as new technology replaces old and new and different skillsets are called for. 

Yet over the last 30 years, have you noticed how rapidly this process of creative destruction has accelerated and continues to do so?

It’s easy to get caught up in questioning whether a certain skillset or career field is going to be relevant in 10 years time, or in trying to forecast what the next big thing will be to get ahead of the curve. 

Both just result in a series of second guesses and procrastination, searching for some sort of solid ground that is just not there.

The result is an odd circumstance where young adults seem to believe in two contradicting ideas:

1. Purpose and direction are things you find through self reflection and, once found, allow you to forecast what the next 10 years or so are going to look like.
2. The job market is fluctuating at such a rate that it is no longer compatible with long term direction.

When you put these two contradicting ideas together, you’re left with a generation of young adults that not only lacks direction, but is questioning the possibility of developing any direction at all. So, what are we to do? What are we to tell young adults who are trying to find their way in this shifting sand?

How Young Adults Can Build Purpose and Find Direction Through Action

A good place to start is refuting the misconception that purpose and direction are things that appear ex nihilo (out of nothing). Instead, we should strive to help young adults understand that direction and purpose, to an extent, are fluid and changing things. 

Those of us who are believers are united in a common purpose: to know God, glorify His name, and build His kingdom. But the individual way that we each fit into that broader purpose day-to-day looks different for each of us. But how do we each figure that piece out?

In contradiction to the polished social media image that we’ve all been exposed to, we very rarely have the privilege of pursuing just one purpose or one direction for our entire lives. 

For the majority of us, we will find that we have a variety of different purposes and directions that come and go as we change and grow. 

Purpose and direction are not about forecasting what the future will look like. They’re about finding a way to apply our unique skillsets in the present. And aiming to grow in those skillsets so we can uncover new ways to apply ourselves in the future.

What kinds of doors do you think this reframing of purpose and direction could open for young adults? 

Instead of being left to flounder in indecision, what if this reframing could help young adults view purpose as something that is uncovered through a process? A process of discovering what they’re good at through trial and error? A process of picking up skillsets they never thought they’d get along the way?

This reframing is something we apply at Unbound every day. And we’ve found that this approach enables young adults to take what seems to be a sheer cliff, and reduce it to stepping stones. 

Each action taken becomes a step in the right direction, and purpose becomes something to be pursued instead of something needed in order to start.

This reframing isn’t just spiritually wise—it’s psychologically healthy. Research shows that having a sense of purpose reduces stress and improves overall well-being (American Psychiatric Association).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are so many Christian young adults lacking direction?

Many young adults today feel lost because of two big influences: social media creates unrealistic expectations, and rapid changes in technology and the job market make long-term planning feel impossible.

Is purpose something you find or something you build?

Purpose is rarely something that just “appears.” Instead, it is built step by step through action, trial and error, and reflection. Each step forward helps uncover direction.

How can young adults take the next step toward purpose?

The best way forward is to focus on action instead of waiting for perfect clarity. Building skills, trying new things, and leaning into opportunities—like Unbound’s Navigate course—help uncover calling in a practical, faith-centered way.

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

If you’re tired of waiting for purpose to “strike” and want to start building direction through action, Unbound’s Navigate course was designed for you.

Navigate is an 8-module, 16-week course that helps Christian young adults:

• Break free from decision fatigue and analysis paralysis
• Discover strengths and skills through real-world projects
• Learn to make confident, faith-driven choices

Learn more about Navigate and preview the course today.