“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11).
We insist we were meant to be a world-famous scientist who cures some deadly disease. And yet, somehow, here we are in a generic bio-lab eking out a living putting labels on glass vials. Or, we were supposed to be a concert pianist—we’re sure of it, our mothers said so—but we’re teaching xylophone scales to third graders instead. Perhaps we were a little league all-star destined to be a major league shortstop—our mothers and fathers both said so—but now we’re a back office claims adjuster who plays first base in the Friday night softball league.
Over time we carry around our “supposed to be’s” like a grudge to our Maker: “Why didn’t you put me in a better spot in life? I had all these talents; surely you could see that. After all, you’re God!” To which he replies something along the lines of, “Yes, I could see it alright, and one day you will see it too—see that I elevated you to the perfect place in my kingdom to have the maximum impact on the relationships I put in your life and to be maximally impacted by those perfectly arranged relationships in return.”
In our deeper selves, we already knew that. But it’s good to keep hearing it anyway.
I hope this encourages you to thank God for your place in the body of Christ today.
Kevin Murray
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