Where You Are Meant to Be
Have you ever felt like you were meant to be somewhere else? Or everyone else around you had it better than you? Or, to use a cliche thought, the grass looks greener on the other side? I would be lying if I didn’t raise my hand to all three.
When I was in college, I was self-diagnosed with an awful but curable disease. It plagued me for years and affected my friendships, my happiness, and overall mental health in a negative way. FOMO. Yes, I suffered from the Fear Of Missing Out. Now FOMO isn’t just being jealous of what your peers are doing; it's the belief that no matter what you are doing, there is something BETTER out there that you COULD be doing. It simply leaves you unsatisfied with your momentary existence and convinces you that your purpose is anywhere but here in the moment. I can give you a million examples, but here’s one.
It was my senior year graduation from college, and my family had driven hours to come and see me walk. They had planned a whole party, just for me. The weather was perfect that day. I was surrounded by friends and family who had no agenda except to support me, and yet I could not find happiness that day. My mind was clouded with thoughts like: I bet my friend’s graduation party is better than mine. I should have invited that girl. I bet Sarah got a car for her grad gift. I never gave my family the attention they deserved, nor did I believe I had a purpose where I was. I’m telling you right now; the devil wants you to think that the potential, or the what if, is more important than the moment. I felt like I was in a dead patch of grass, and the grass was greener in every other direction but mine. But God wants you to know that He has a purpose and a plan for you in every moment and every situation you are in.
Joseph was his father's favorite among 11 other brothers, but jealousy overcame them, and Joseph was sold into slavery to the foreign country of Egypt. There he gained favor from the Pharaoh’s captain of the guard, Potiphar, and was put in charge of Potiphar's household. When Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar's wife, he was framed and thrown into the king's prison. There he gained favor from the prison keeper and was put in charge of all the prisoners. So much that the keeper of the prison trusted him not to run away. (Genesis 37-41)
Esther’s people, the Israelites, had been captured by the Persians and living in slavery. When King Ahasuerus lost favor with his queen, he ordered all the beautiful young virgins to his palace so that he may choose another queen. Esther was chosen to go to the king's palace, so she hid her identity as a Jew, and when she was chosen to be the queen, she found herself alone, afraid, and confronted with the most significant decision of her life. A decree went out to kill all of the Jews, and Esther knew she needed to inform the king very well, knowing that in doing so, she was risking her life. (Esther 1-10)
Paul and Silas were on the road doing ministry. They had just stayed with a family that had given their lives to Christ. On the road, they encountered a young girl possessed by a demon, speaking lies and interrupting their ministry. Paul casts out the demon, which then angers the people of the nearby town. They are both beaten and thrown into prison with shackles on their hands and feet. (Acts 16:11-34)
Here’s the scoop, despite the situation they were in, despite how easy or hard it was, despite whether it seemed like God was with them or not, they all believed that they were meant to be where they were, and God used them. Joseph could have said, “Hey God, I keep doing everything right and I’m getting punished for it. This can't be your plan for me.” Instead, he kept believing that God had a purpose for him, no matter the circumstance. Joseph ended up becoming the prime minister of Egypt and ultimately saving nations from a seven-year drought. Esther could have easily said, “This isn’t fair! I’m a captive slave queen stolen away from my friends and family. I wish I was never here!” Instead, Esther knew she had been put there for a reason, so she went before the king and saved her people. Paul and Silas were on the spiritual mountain top of ministry before being beaten and imprisoned. Surely God didn’t have a purpose for them in prison. They were meant to be out preaching. Instead of complaining, they rejoiced and sang hymns. When an earthquake opened the prison doors, they didn’t run but instead ministered to the prison keeper and his family, leading them to become believers.
God created you with purpose, and your purpose follows you wherever YOU go. We can't always change our situation, but we can change our perspective, and no matter the situation, no matter what you may feel during the situation, the truth is God is using you where you are at. Not will use you, IS using you. The grass is never greener on the other side. It's greener where you water it. From time to time, I still catch myself after church talking with a member and wanting the conversation to just end, or wishing I could move on to the next discussion as if that's where I was meant to be instead. But how can God use me to minister to that member, or vise versa, if I wish I were somewhere else? God is calling you and me into a deeper calling of purpose that you belong in every moment. Your name has value because of the name of the one who created you. His signature is on your soul. He made you so beautiful and with a purpose. He brought you into being and designed you specifically for a purpose. Wherever you are at this very moment. God. Is. Using. You.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for a good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
