God is stretching me. He’s growing me, challenging me, and loving me when I mess up. Here’s what I’m realizing, though. It’s not about me. It’s not about what I’m learning, what I’m doing, or what I’m facing… It’s all about the Kingdom. It’s all about my Father. It’s all about HIS HEART- towards mankind, towards His children, towards you and me. It’s all about His love, His grace, His goodness.
I took a trip to Starbucks and as I stepped through the door, I looked to my right only to see a friend whom I’ve not seen in many years. I’ve always remembered him for his passion for God. He has such a passion for the Kingdom- he truly sets an example of what it means to live “Kingdom Minded.” I took a seat and we started talking about where God has brought us, what He is showing us, and where we are being led… I was sharing how privileged I feel to be where God has placed me- it’s growing me, challenging me, and I LOVE it. I don’t always feel qualified to be doing what God is calling me to, where He has me… Sometimes, I truly feel there are others who are so much more prepared than I am, who know so much more than I do biblically speaking, who are more experienced, and so on… but, nonetheless, I LOVE it.
His response was this:
“You are where you are because God trusts you to be there. He has you where you are because He trusts you, even though you may not trust yourself…”
I felt such a weight lifted off my shoulders. I talk quite often about learning what it looks like to trust God, but never have I even thought of God trusting me. Maybe that’s what it comes down to- maybe I (we) find ourselves re-learning how to trust God, over and over again, when really it’s ourselves we lack trust in. Maybe the root of learning to trust God is grounded in learning to trust who He created us to be. Learning to trust that He knows what He is doing as He continues to create us. When we go through new seasons of life, we know God is going to pull through- He always does. Maybe seasons are so difficult because we’re afraid we can’t handle what is coming next. Just like I feel ill prepared, or ill equipped at times with what God has me doing, maybe we often feel ill prepared/equipped for what out next steps are. Maybe- just maybe- what we consider to be a “lack of trust/faith in God”, is actually a moment of identity crisis because we forget who we belong to and what that means.
Why is it so easy to forget our lineage- the fact that we are heirs with Christ. Through that sonship nothing formed against us has enough power to succeed. What if we started focusing on what it means to be an heir with Christ. What if we started focusing on the Kingdom and how exciting God’s kingdom is! We need to become excited about the kingdom of God!! What would it look like if we operated out of an understanding and longing for the kingdom to be glorified rather than operating out of a fear or doubt of us failing or not failing… us being good enough or saying the right thing or in my case(like many, I’m sure) – being under qualified. This is where we must realize IT’S NOT ABOUT US. As long as we have our eyes set on Christ- our purpose aligned with His purpose- we are successful. How? As we show the world the love, the truth, the grace and heart of God- we are successful because that’s all that matters. Glorifying God- building up the kingdom… that’s what matters most. I believe we truly do that when we learn to trust where God has us. Put aside the expectations put on us by society, by family, by yourself through comparison- and just be who God created you to be, where He has placed you.
The creator of the universe, the creator of your heart, has you where you are because He has called you there. He trusts you where you are because He has created you to be there.
He has called me. He has called you. He is leading me. He is leading you. He trusts me. He trusts you. We don’t have to trust ourselves, or our ability to succeed where God has led us because He trusts us. He has equipped us. All we have to do is trust in the identity He has placed over us.
There’s a reason you are where you are.
God trusts you to be where you are- be a good steward where you are and just walk with Him. He totally knows what He is doing.
He designed you to bring Him praise. He designed you to be a city on a hill. He designed you to bring people to His name. You do that by understanding your identity in Him, and trusting who He has called you to be. He has made no one else to take your place. There is no one who can do what He has you doing, better than you are already doing it.
Thanks for reading
With all the Love in my heart,
Andie
