Sometimes we can spend so much time looking towards the future. We dream about the day we will finally get that job, car or house we’ve always wanted. Or to the time we have more money or get married or move to a different country.
But what we forget is that there is a reason we have been placed where we are. There is a reason why you are still single, there is a reason why you’re still living in that country, and there is a reason why you are still working at that company. There is a reason, and there is a purpose.
You Have Been Placed There for a Purpose
We can be so eager to quickly move onto the next stage of our lives, that we don’t focus on where we currently are. But it’s important to simply slow down and be present in the place that God has placed you. Why? Because you are there for a purpose.
What you must know is that every stage of your life is important. Every place you find yourself has significance. Whether you’re working a job as a tiller or manager or whether you’re staying in an apartment in Harare or living in a foreign country.
God doesn’t place you anywhere so that you can simply while up time until you get to the next place. No. He positions you in specific places for a purpose.
You can minister to and positively influence those in your sphere of influence, no matter where you are or what you are doing. That is why God has put you where you are. You have the ability to change and impact the lives of those around you.
It can be difficult to accept this, especially if you’re simply looking out for your own interests. But it is important to understand that we are not here to do our own will but God’s will.
We are Here to Fulfil God’s Will
Sometimes the problem is that we can be more interested in doing things that we think are more beneficial for ourselves. If where we are or what we’re doing doesn’t appear to be enjoyable or pleasing to us then we’re eager to go elsewhere.
But it’s not about where we want to be but where God wants us to be. As Christians we are here to fulfil God’s will. We are here to help, heal and bless others, just as Jesus did.
Take a Cue from Jesus
When Jesus came to earth He had Heaven to look forward to. He had the joy of being in His Father’s presence again to anticipate. But despite this, He still remained focused on His earthly ministry. How did He do that? We find the answer in John 6:38 where Jesus says:
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.
This verse reveals to us that Jesus understood that He was on a mission.
Jesus came to help others. He came to heal the sick and open the eyes of the blind; to preach the gospel to the poor and proclaim liberty to the captives. (Isaiah 61:1-3) He didn’t come to earth seeking His own pleasure but to do God’s will.
It’s the same for us as Christians. God has placed each and every one of us in a specific place for a specific purpose. There are people around you who need to hear the Gospel and be set free, and you’re the one who can help them do that.
You are not here only to get blessed but also to bless others. Once you understand this, you will have the patience to remain where you are.
There is a Purpose for Everything
Solomon says it so well in Ecclesiastes 3:1:
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.
Once you get what King Solomon is saying in this verse, you will realise the importance of staying where God has placed you. You are only going to be there for a time and a season. Maybe its a few weeks or months or maybe it’s even a few years. But it’s a season all the same and during that time God has work for you to do.
There are lives you need to transform and people you need to help. But there is also a lot you need to learn. Being in that particular place or position will enable you to gain the understanding and skills you need to reach the next level in your life. It will also help you grow spiritually.
So today, choose to be excited about where God has placed you. Don’t fall into a cycle of always yearning to be somewhere else. Understand that you have been placed where you are for a purpose and God has great plans in store for you and for those around you.
