Your deepest thoughts and desires are laid bare before The Creator of the Universe! For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17
People, we have a cloud of witnesses about us all-ways! If not visible – they are not visible to the normal human eye! I did not make this up! https://www.gotquestions.org/cloud-of-witnesses.html
There are questions we may have about things we experience! The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Proverbs 16:4
What is your career plan?
I had a definite career/life plan. To be a successful physician until my life fell apart! Yes! I was totally to blame. First thing I learned is that NOTHING is hidden:
“Nothing in ALL creation is hidden from God’s Sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account” Hebrews 4:13.
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17
God does the hiding! We serve a God Who hides His servants. And while they are hidden, He works in them, so that later and with greater power He may work through them.
1. God Is Patient- 2 Peter 3:8-9
“ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
What we may comprehend as seeing a slow response is due to God not listening to us, we are not taking time to be patient. God is patient with us and we in return should be patient with Him.
It is very easy to compare ourselves to others and wonder why something has come through for them but it has yet to happen for us. We need to understand that there is a purpose and reason for something not happening or not changing. I feel it is us that needs to be doing the changing, starting with being patient.
2. God Directs- Proverbs 16:9
“ In their hearts humans plan their course, but The Lord establishes their steps.”
We are all guilty of pre-planning out our future, sometimes it is good but many times it is not. When we create a long-term plan in our hearts, we then quickly find ourselves disappointed and even lost. But if we confide in the Lord and let Him bring us to where we need to be, there isn’t any room for these hurt feelings and the steps we took to get to these great moments in our lives are enjoyed throughout our journey.
3. His Timing- Ecclesiastes 3:1
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the Heavens”
God never promised us that our life on earth would be easy, but He did say that there is a time and season for everything. If you continue reading through verse 8 you will see how many things that we consider good end up countering with something we consider bad, but God has told us there is a purpose for it all. Verse 2-8 it reads, “ a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
4. Live For Today-Proverbs 27:1
“ Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Recognizing that each day we rise from our beds we have only God to thank for it. We do not know what tomorrow will bring so we should celebrate each day and live by honoring God in the gift of life we often take for granted.
Our lives can change in a blink of an eye which gives us an even more powerful purpose to live for today and not brag about anything that may come tomorrow because we may not see tomorrow. God has given us today and we should rejoice in these moments, not future ones.
5. Hope And A Future – Jeremiah 29:11-12
“ 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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
God has created a plan for each one of us but the way we go about trusting His plan can dictate our overall happiness. When we pray we open up the communication line between God and ourselves. It allows us to go to Him before seeking help anywhere else and it shows our submission to Him and His plan for us. The plans He has for us always exceeds our wildest expectations because it aligns with what we are meant to be doing, not what we expect we should be doing.
6. Wait Quietly – Lamentations 3: 25-26
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
The last thing we think of doing in bad situations is waiting. We tend to act hastily without actually thinking or fleeing the issue to avoid certain emotions or the reality of our choices. We also don’t often do this quietly either. When we put our hope in the Lord we find that we can stand quietly and still, giving it over to God since He is in control in the first place. God is always good and has given us the gift of salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. So we should stand still in the middle of the storm and know God is there and is in control.
7. Submit To God – Proverbs 3:5-6
“ Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
God had Created each of us for a purpose and many of us do not know what that purpose is, but if we allow God’s Word to speak to us, follow His commands, and allow less of ourselves, we will find that path will lead us down a purpose-filled path. So don’t rely on yourself, rely on God!
So, in considering this question we need to truly kneel, go for a walk and pray! About what God Created us for specifically!
It is amazing that even the geographical locations of Jesus’ early life were foretold.
Matthew, in his gospel, directly quotes the Old Testament prophet, Hosea. What is also seen here is the ‘detour’ that Jesus’ life takes when He is first born. The baby King has to escape certain death under Herod, which forces His parents to flee to Egypt. But God is certainly in control! God’s plans always come to fruition even if there are detours along the way! Psalm 37:23 comes to mind as I write this. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And He delights in his way.” Throughout our lifetime there are opportunities for our location to change, for the plans to take a detour. This kind of change can present with it all sorts of challenges and insecurities if we don’t understand that God is ordering our steps.
We further see this in Jesus’ life. Bethlehem and Nazareth were locations that were prophesied regarding the Messiah and they did not always have a positive outlook. ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ (John 1:46) This makes me think of the limitations that people place upon themselves because where they have come from has not been a ‘big city’ or a popular location with a positive reputation. Again, God is not limited by location. What we may view as insignificant, God sees as the perfect environment for Him to defy the status quo and bring something incredible out of nothing.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
Hosea 11:1 (NLT)
That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
Matthew 2:14-15 (NLT)
Let’s pray before I get carried away with and by The Word!
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am so blessed that nothing is out of Your Sight. Everything that You plan and order is awesome! I can find delight in following Your steps so I put all of my trust in You today. Whoever I meet, wherever I may go, it is all part of Your plan, so I know that I will prosper. I let go of every wrong mindset that would limit me and today, I ask for guidance regarding my future steps. Please speak to me, Lord. You are The light to my path and The lamp to my feet.
In Jesus’ Name I pray.
Amen.