In the midst of all our hustle and bustle we can find ourselves discontent with where we are and what we have. It’s a sign that we’ve become anxious and have begun to take for granted the provisions God has made for us. Take employment for example: When you were either underemployed or unemployed, the prayer was, “God, please give me a breakthrough. I need a job!” Pretty sincere prayer for the moment. As a man, it’s hard to live day-to-day without working – even when God is providing every need. There’s something about getting up and going to work every morning that makes you feel good about yourself. However, when God is preparing you for the “what’s next,” it’s easy to get antsy and want to jump into the best thing that comes along – not necessarily the best thing for you. It’s easy to feel that you’ve outgrown your current situation, status, or position and eagerly leap into the next great thing without consulting God on your next move.
Now think about your current job: You’ve been there so long, you’re considered furniture. You feel like you’ve hit your ceiling, everyone is on your nerves, and you think you want a drastic change. Instead of asking God what He has to say about it, sometimes we give in to our feelings, panic, and make questionable decisions. I’ve seen people (including myself) surrender a blessed existence for a more unstable one – and God hadn’t said to move. Think of all the trouble and stress a move like that caused. You left for “more money,” “better opportunity,” “because it seems better over there” – the reasons are endless, but again, what did God say?
Both scenarios put me in the mind of David when he and his mercenaries fled from Saul and took refuge in Ziklag. God allowed them to dwell in enemy territory with their families, but when the situation started getting dicey, David stepped out and decided to take his men to align with the Philistine army against Israel. The Philistine king was all for it, but the generals recognized David from his famous victory over their champion Goliath and pleaded with the king not to accept David and his men. The king begrudgingly sent David and company back to Ziklag. That was a 3-day trip (one way) designed to get a big payday and for the opportunity to raid more Israeli villages. The job opportunity seemed too great to pass up and David took a gamble. He and his men ended up travelling six days, had run out of supplies, and returned home to find their city burned and ruined and their wives and children kidnapped – all because they stepped out of position. The important part of that story was that David then consulted God on whether to pursue the Amalekites or count all as lost. God gave His blessing to pursue and assured David that he and his men would recover everything.
When you feel like you’ve been cramped at work, in your relationships, and spiritually, think on God’s goodness and how He got you to that point. Ask God if where you are is just a campsite or where He wants you for the duration. Once that’s answered ask God to reveal the tools He’s given you to thrive in that situation. We serve a God who will never leave His children lacking.
Today’s prayer: God help me to find myself. Reveal to me your perfect will for my life. Although your permissive will is one of blessing, I know your perfect will yields the “more abundant” blessing. Help me to see situations – not with my natural eyes, but with the spiritual eyes you’ve given me. Help me to discern what is permanent from what is temporary, what is good for me from what is good to me. Help me to thrive wherever you have planted me and to know when to close the door on that phase of my life. To you be the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
-MB
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