Insight for the Journey

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my assignment in life. By “assignment” I mean one’s general situation in life, the thing to which God has called you. The assignment you have right now is God ordained! It includes the family you have. It includes your socioeconomic status. It includes your work place or the school you attend. It includes the neighborhood where you live and even the tough things that are happening to you. All of that is a part of your “assignment” from God. And we are to represent Jesus joyfully where we are, in the midst of our assignment.

Now let’s be honest… that’s easier said than done, right? Why? Because some assignments feel pretty rotten. Let’s say you are in a prison, either figuratively or literally. Listen, if you turn that self-induced mess over to God, he will take it and begin to use it. Now, you are still stuck in prison, figuratively or literally, but now that God has been given control again of your life he can begin to use this whole situation for your good and his glory. Why? Because there are people in prison who need to be reconciled to God, right? And they need to see modeled before them how a Christian would live in that situation. They need to see a real Christian in action.

So if you are struggling with economic failures, emotional failures, a broken marriage or your kids are rebelling and breaking your heart, or you have parents that frustrate the daylights out of you, God is saying “Look, just give me control. There are others in this situation who need to see how a real Christian lives in the midst of this. I’ve put you there to represent me well. This is your special assignment right now.” Joyfully embrace your assignment even if you don’t like it. If you have a chip on your shoulder you’re not representing Jesus well.

Frankly, it’s easy to get a chip on our shoulder. I mean, given the choice between being ambassador to Paris, France or Kabul, Afghanistan is it really that hard to choose? Most of us are going for Paris. Yet some of you feel like you are in Kabul. We say, “But Lord, I don’t like my assignment! I want to be in Paris. Paris has all that great artwork and fine architecture and food. Kabul has sand and rocks! Where are all the museums and fun things to do?”

Listen, as an ambassador you are pretty worthless when you have a chip on your shoulder. The same thing is true spiritually. We must joyfully embrace our assignment.

Let me share with you one of the most powerful principles I’ve learned about living for God. God is generally into this thing called “blooming where you’re planted.” In 1 Corinthians 7:17 and 1 Corinthians 7:20-22 he says essentially this: “Hey, are you single, are you in a job you really don’t like, are you married, don’t fight it. Be the best you can be in that role. Embrace your assignment. Don’t be spending too much energy trying to change assignments. Spend most of your energy on blooming where you are. Even though this season of life is tough, God is using you there for a specific purpose.”

You may ask, “But what if I really don’t like my current assignment?” If you want to go from Kabul to Paris the best way for the Lord to say “Okay, we are going to Paris” is to succeed in Kabul. But to be bitter and fail in Kabul is not going to open the door for Paris. It will likely mean you’ll be called back home. A promotion to Paris doesn’t come after a failure in Kabul. Jesus said if you are faithful with a few things I’ll put you in charge of many. If you are faithful with little I’ll put you in charge of much. You may desire change but in the meantime embrace your assignment. Bloom where you are.