Why am I here? My life seems stuck. God get me out of this mess. How can I serve you when I am in this place?
All questions I have asked and statements I have made. There are some days I find it incredibly difficult to see beyond my present circumstances and to believe God might be up to something. Many a person has quoted Romans 8:28 in times of crisis and confusion. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV). But if the passage is true in times of crisis is it not also just as true in the day to day monotony of life?
Building Block #4: God is using our circumstances to position and prepare us to accomplish his vision for your life.
“Often there is no tangible connection between our circumstances and the vision God has given us” (44). Or at least that is how it may seem to us. God will use our current situation and circumstances as well as future circumstances to put in the place to accomplish his vision. In the short term current circumstances may seem to be moving us away from God’s vision.
“God ordained visions are always too big for us to handle. We shouldn’t be surprised. Consider the source. There are always more questions than answers when God births a vision in our hearts. There are always obstacles. There is always a lack of resources” (42).
Nehemiah was the cub-bearer to the king…of Babylon. But God had placed in his heart a vision for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. On the surface it would seem as though where he was at and what he was doing had absolutely nothing to do with God’s will for his life. But God knew better than Nehemiah. He had him in just the right place to fulfill the vision.
Reflection: What is the main thing about your current situation that makes it difficult for you to believe God is preparing you for his vision?
Blessings,
Stephen
Quotations taken from:
Stanley, Andy. Visioneering. Sisters, Or: Multnomah Publishers, 2005.
founder of the Church of the Nazarene, are certainly going to make their way into the motivational repertoire. One of those I heard frequently was a story of a person asking old Phiney what he would do if he were told he only had ten years to live. Phiney, lowering his voice and fixing his eyes on his poor unsuspecting inquisitor replied he would spend the first five years preparing for the last five. With that men came into the room and carried off the questioner to study in one of the many fine Nazarene institutions of higher learning. From then on no one dared asked Phiney any more questions.