Place

There is a beauty in a symphony—the harmony and melody rising together, each in its time. Yet, an orchestra needs the conductor. It needs the sheet music. The trombone cannot decide to do its own thing; the percussion cannot try to carry the show.

We, instruments in our Father’s symphony. Yet, yet, sometimes we catch ourselves. We want to have a different role. The bassoon wants to carry the flute’s soprano. The cymbals are tired of waiting for just the right moment.

Sometimes, our role in life is not what we wanted. We compare. Look at what could have been. Regrets. Should have’s.

But we do not follow a God who unwisely places his people. We do not follow a Commander who squanders his soldiers’ lives. He is not reckless. He has each person’s individual interests in mind. You are his beloved child, and he has placed you well.

Yet, sometimes that placing doesn’t seem good. Your purpose seems lost and thwarted due to circumstances. Isn’t God in charge of circumstances?! Your childhood dreams and ambitions have fallen to the wayside. Things aren’t as you wanted. Life is difficult. A diagnosis. Failed marriage. Unable to get that degree desired. Rat race. Jail sentence. Our planned-for and wished-for purpose is gone.

Parting of Lot and Abraham, Santa Maria Maggior

Abraham must have known this feeling. He looked at the fertile valley on one side, green glimmering. The Jordan Valley. On the other side, drier, arid. “Lot, my nephew, you choose.” Did Abraham have a lump in his throat, a gulp, an “I hope this turns out okay?” Lot’s eyes feasted on the richness, the beauty. He chose the fertile Jordan. Did Abraham have a final sigh of longing at the beauty and promise? But Abraham trusted. God would assign him his lot (Gen. 13). His placing would be good.

Knowing what he knows now, would Abraham have chosen differently? Abraham, the father of faith. The great-grand-something-father of Jesus. Abraham through whom all nations will be blessed.

David must have known this feeling. David’s heart must have been beating. Quick. Only a minute to decide. Saul—hunting for him. Here—in front of him. Opportunity—Saul was vulnerable. Mind racing, heart beating. David trusted. God would place him. His placing would be good.

Knowing what he knows now, would David have chosen differently? He sang, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot!” (Psalm 16:5). His portion—inheritance. His cup—his wine of joy and abundance. The Lord held his lot—all that was given to David in abundance.

Neither Abraham nor David knew in that moment of decision what would happen. Abraham wandered for years. David kept running for his life. Their God-given places might have seemed bitter at times. But they trusted. And God is a God who can be trusted. The author of Hebrews commends them, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on earth” (Heb. 11:13).

Jesus himself was offered the kingdoms of this world by Satan in his temptation—a shortcut to his goal of being King and of reigning righteously but without the cross. He was given the opportunity to better his position, his placing—jump right up from a humble carpenter to ruler of the kingdoms. But Jesus trusted. He did not better his position—so that our position would be bettered, from that of ones doomed to eternal death due to sin to children of God. Amazing grace. This is the God we can trust, no matter what our current position is.

No circumstance can thwart your purpose. God is greater than that—he has designed both you and your circumstance. Satan may throw lies at you, telling you are worthless, of no good, and this world would be better off without you. Others may have been instruments of his voice throwing lies at you. But God used Joseph in years of prison. God used Tabitha, a quiet widow who just sewed (Acts 9:36-43). God used nameless persecuted Christians who went out and spread the knowledge of God’s glory in Jesus Christ because of their suffering (Acts 8:4). God used a small boy with just a few fishes and loaves for one of his most remembered miracles (Jn. 6:9). You are not purposeless. Jesus has restored his purpose for you. The King of the universe has named you ambassador, servant, someone who will judge angels (1 Cor. 6:3), and a member of the body with a unique spiritual gift to edify others so we all grow up in Christ (Eph. 4:11-13; 1 Cor. 12). This is who you are. A healthy self-image is confident in God’s purpose, and God’s equipping.

If we feel lost, purposeless, unsure of what our role and spiritual gift is, begin. Step out. It is far easier to find our spiritual gift and purpose when we are trying out different roles than introspection. Follow Jesus in serving more than dwelling on your “perfect” desires, or your “perfect” place. If you feel afraid, so did Joshua as he faced the task of conquering the Promised Land. But the Lord says the same thing to you, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Jos. 1:9). You have the same God! He is with you, so close and present that he dwells inside of you to equip and empower!