Here for a Purpose

Everyone, at some point in their life, hits a dead end. They reach a point where they do not know where they are supposed to be or what they are supposed to be doing, or don't understand why they are where they are. Maybe you've started at a new school and you don't like it. Maybe you moved to a new state or new sports team, or maybe something familiar in your life is falling apart.

It's important to remember this simple fact: God put you exactly where He wants you to be right now, and He put you there for a reason. It could be a period of growth for you, or there could be someone who desperately needs your help, whether you can tell or not. Follow the path He has for you. You might never find out why He had you in one particular place, but you can be sure that there is a reason.

Take the examples of two people in the Bible: Joseph and Esther. Joseph was pretty much in one of the worst situations possible at first: he was sold into slavery by his brothers and then Pharaoh's wife got him thrown into prison. But God had a purpose in it all; Joseph didn't know when he was sold that God would later need him to store up food and save Egypt and the surrounding countries from famine. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20)

Another Biblical example of this is Esther. She was chosen to be the wife of the king of Persia, out of many other women. Soon after this, Haman began plotting to get the king to kill all of the Jews. Mordecai, her cousin, tries to convince her to go in and talk to the king, which could lead to death if she had not been invited. At first she refuses, but agrees when Mordecai says that perhaps this is why God allowed her to be married to the king: "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b)

You can never tell at the time why God may have placed you in a situation that is less than desirable, but always remember that you are in exactly the right place at the right time to do the work that God has for you.

What do you think? Have you struggled with this before? Have you ever been in a bad situation and later been really needed for something in that situation?