Wishing your life away

'Don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you.' (1 Cor 7:17 MSG)

This thought is difficult sometimes, especially when you don't like where you are at the current time, whether that's a job, in a relationship (or not in one), or even at the dentists (where I will be in an hour!!)

The Bible doesn't pretend Christian life is really easy and all happy smiley faces. It's full of battles that are lost as well as won (Israel as a whole), death of loved ones (Lazarus), sorrow for the children they don't have (Hannah and Samuel), being widowed (Ruth), being in the wrong country (Joseph, Daniel, Israelites), Etc. Paul in the New Testament describes the Christian life constantly as a battle.

‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).

But what he does get at is that our struggle shouldn't be against worldly stuff, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We shouldn't worry about not being in the place or situation we wish we were in here on Earth, but concentrate on the bigger stuff. The Devil tries to distract you from your true purpose of battling with him directly like it says you should in Ephesians by trying to get you to worry about, wish, and battle for earthly things.

Therefore trust God in all things, He has you where He wants you, 'for such a time as this' (Esther's story).

‘Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name’ (Psalm 33:18–21).

I know I sometimes wish I was someplace else, but Lord help me remember Esther's mighty story - for such a time as this. You brought me here, please work through me for your Glory in this place, where I am right now, always. Amen