There are times when we all find ourselves lamenting our circumstances. These may be times in which we grieve life’s losses or suffer life’s indignities, or these may be times in which we grapple with the frustrations that come with life in this world—when our skills are underutilized, or our contributions are underappreciated. These may be times when our bodies or minds are weakened to such a degree that we cannot carry out the duties that fulfill us, or when we cannot take up the positions that make us feel valued and valuable. In different ways and at different times, we all wish our circumstances could be different.
And while it is no sin—and may in fact be very good—to pray for such circumstances to change, we must always understand that God’s calling upon us is to serve him in our current circumstances, no matter what they are. We are to be faithful in what is, not in what we wish could be, to be faithful in his reality rather than in our dreams. We are to be faithful to accept the leading of God’s providence, understanding that it has directed us to the specific situation in which he means for us to prove our love for him and for others—to prove our submission to his rule and to display our faithfulness to his Word.
In fact, we could take it up a step to say this: if there were a circumstance in which we could better serve God, we would be in that circumstance at this very moment. God, in his sovereignty, has put us exactly where he means for us to be at this specific time and place. It is right now that he means for us to be content, to know how to be brought low, and to abound, to learn the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need, for like the Apostle before us, we can do all things through him who strengthens us (Philippians 4:11-13).
If there were a version of reality in which you could serve him better in different circumstances, you would be living in it right now.
Thus, if you are healthy or ill, rich or poor, engulfed with grief or overwhelmed with joy, this is God’s will for you in this moment. His calling upon you is to serve him here and now. It is to show the deepest submission, the most earnest humility, and the finest Christian character. It is to show to yourself, to the world around, and even to God that your love for him is not contingent on getting what you want, but that it is founded and fixed upon who he is and what he has done.
Christian, when your circumstances are difficult or even if they seem unbearable, you can entrust them to God. If there were a version of reality in which you could serve him better in different circumstances, you would be living in it right now. But God, in his wisdom, has determined that you can best serve him here, now, and like this. So accept his decree and even as you pray for this grief to pass, this illness to end, or this weight to be lifted, believe that he means for you to be exactly where you are and to serve him exactly as you are. Be faithful!
