Discover God's Dream For You By Jennie AllenSample

Threads of Places (Part 2)

There is a lot we can know. We know our mission. We know at least a glimpse of the story of God through Scripture. We know we are to love, without warrant, every person God puts in our path, and we know we are to love God more than all of it. When it comes down to it, 99 percent of being in the will of God is being wholly willing to be in the will of God. God is not vague, even though he can be quiet. He is completely wise in his timing of when he shows his will.

You may need to change your place to be in his will, but to tell you the truth, most of you have enough opportunity for ministry right under your noses that you never need to move or change a thing.

We learn from Joseph’s story today our places are significant, even when they are not necessarily the places we would have chosen. God sets us in them and has important work for us to do there.

Recently I was talking with a girl who wept because she wanted a life of purpose. I asked what she did, and she told me she was developing a sex education program that might be used in the entire Texas school district. Um . . . I was confused. How could she not feel purpose in this God-given place? She went on to realize there was certainly purpose there, but she was living in so much fear that she would fail at this huge task that she couldn’t embrace her place.

Maybe you are exactly in the will of God, living a life of purpose, but you can’t even see it because you are afraid.

Afraid your place doesn’t matter. Afraid you won’t succeed. Afraid God doesn’t see you.

Afraid that what you’re doing isn’t specifically ministry. Afraid what people will think if you live for Christ in your place.

Do not let fear distract you from living boldly in your places. Like Joseph, live more intentionally and embrace the place God has strategically selected for you.

Your place is not the problem; it’s what you choose to do in your place that matters.

Respond:

What about your place makes you afraid?

How might God want you to be intentional like Joseph in your place?

Adapted from Restless Bible Study Guide by Jennie Allen