Lord, I believe you arrange all circumstances... so... “Can you please get me out of here, soon!”
Perhaps you imagined that your life would be more exciting or more fulfilling than it has been lately?
Perhaps your daily tasks are boring, or not “in your gifting”. Do you struggle to stay upbeat, and on track?
Perhaps God has a calling on your life; yet, there you sit, in His waiting room, trying to be a good patient.
Perhaps times of frustration overtake you as the clock ticks on, ever advancing, as another day slips by. Or, maybe that’s just me?! Please tell me I’m not alone with these feelings of discontentment.
So often I have prayed:
“Lord, I know you have a wonderful plan for my life” and I secretly hope this isn’t it. “Please, use me for something big soon. I’m not getting any younger you know, which I know that you know. My life just isn’t turning out like I thought it would, I’m trying to press on Lord, but I just don’t understand.”
Who’s out there? Can anyone relate? Waiting and hoping… hoping and waiting for God to use us somehow. Why does God do this? Why is he like this? With so much darkness out there why would he have us in here; in this accounting job, or with these screaming kids, or in this hospital bed, or alone at the computer, forgotten?
Honestly, some days all I can do is cling to the hope that He really does have a plan for me. Hey, maybe some seasons are simply about learning to cling, maybe that’s the whole idea! And, here’s a hope-filled possibility: Maybe God has us “in training” for something.
Perhaps He is refining a certain skill that will be necessary for the ultimate task he has in mind.
Jesus was a carpenter. The God who strung the stars together elected to hammer nails in a small town for 30 quiet years as a manual laborer. He came with a huge mission to save us; but, he sought first to understand us, and to get his holy hands dirty and ultimately to allow those hands be pierced for us. Our Lord was willing to do everyday life without complaint. He worked wholeheartedly at everyday tasks.
Here’s another thought: When Jesus began his teaching ministry. How did he instruct people? In the Gospels we see Jesus using parables, telling stories from everyday life. When he taught about the unimaginable Kingdom of God, he brought things “down to earth.” He spoke of tangible things and everyday people: fishermen and farmers, IRS agents and debtors, rebellious sons and forgiving fathers.
Our God understood the everyday person because he became one. King Jesus chose to be “regular,” “ordinary,” “common” “just like the rest of us.” Don’t you just love Jesus! When we study his perfect life, we see him connected upward toward God and outward toward others. So, why are we so self-focused? Why do we crave fame, fortune, and ‘fabulous’ stuff? These things only put our feet onto a treadmill of wanting M-O-R-E, need to do more, get more, have more, and the more cycle makes us crazy. Our possessions start to possess us. More stuff does not bring peace to our hearts only Jesus can do that.
Everyday life may be our classroom for something bigger. Everyday life prepares us for HIM and heaven. Every day we can take that thought to heart and get really excited!
-M
