To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

I’m going to talk about this verse one more time. (I look at this verse on my wall every day, so I’ve had lots of time to think about it.) I’ve already mentioned that I had to learn that life is seasonal. It is also true that life is about timing—God’s time. His time is always better than mine.

            But years ago, because of our own personal recession, I was forced to get a job—any job. God gave me what turned out to be a wonderful job—even though I wouldn’t have chosen it, and I went kicking and screaming (silently). God gave it to me in such an obvious way (when He drops stuff into your lap, it’s hard to ignore), so I knew it was God. So I put on my martyr outfit and showed up for work. The first meeting I went to, I got in my car almost in tears and told God, “There is no way I’m going to be the best at this job. These people have accelerated the term over achievers to a whole new level.”

            I wasn’t exactly in the Spirit at that moment (maybe that’s why I know it was God—I wouldn’t have thought of this—and I wasn’t really asking), but God said right back, “I didn’t give you this job, so that you would be the best or rise to the top.”

            I immediately realized that this was one of my beliefs: the purpose and goal is always to rise to the top. (Who said!???!) Well, I was acting like a brat, but I wasn’t stupid; I had to ask the obvious question: Ok, God, then why did you give me this job? What’s my purpose here? He said to me, “I sent you to minister to these people—to listen to them and love them.”

            That was unexpected. We over achievers don’t send out “I-need-to-be ministered-to-and-loved” vibes. And I can’t say I did it all that well, but I tried to do His purpose at that job. I prayed for those people faithfully and showed them love—like they were my own small group. I don’t really know the fruit. I was there for over five years. Maybe the fruit was the growth in me.

            So I’m asking you: Have you asked God what His purpose is for your situation? He has one. I wish I’d realized this sooner. Life could have been easier. It reminds me of the story of a guy in a stairwell trying to move a piano, when his friend offers to help. They wrestle with the piano for an hour, when the first guy says, “Let’s just quit. We will never get this piano up the stairs.” “Up?!” his friend says. “I thought you were trying to get it down the stairs!” That’s a capsule of what my life has been like when I don’t ask God His purpose in each situation.

Dear Father, I want what You want. Show me Your purpose in this season, this struggle, this relationship, this situation. Speak clearly, Lord. I’m listening.


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