Why on Earth Am I Here?
By Carol Round, Special Writer’s Opinion for ASSIST News Service
CLAREMORE, OK (ANS – February 9, 2015)
“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”— Proverbs 16:9 (RSV).
Have you ever wondered why
you’re at a specific job, living in a particular place, how you ended up
married to a certain person or even why on Earth you’re here? If you’ve
ever had questions like these and didn’t have the answer, maybe it’s
because the Lord was directing your steps.
Sometimes, it’s only by looking back years later that the answer is revealed to us. Other times, we experience an “AHA” moment.
In 1971, when I enrolled in
college, my plans were to pursue a degree in elementary education. When I
sat down to discuss classes with my assigned advisor, he said, “You’re
going to have a difficult time finding a job after graduation because
there are too many elementary education majors.”
His statement led me to change
my major to secondary education with an emphasis in English, my favorite
high school class. While I’d never taken a journalism class, I decided
to enroll in one the first semester as an elective. I loved it and
eventually changed my major to journalism education with a minor in
English. After teaching for several years at the high school level, I
came to realize it was God’s plan all along. Although I’ve been retired
from education for 10 years, I still stay in touch with, and am able to
minister to, many of my former students.
Recently, a friend shared with
me about her sister’s “AHA” moment when God revealed to her why she was
at a particular job. Webster’s dictionary defines an “AHA” moment as a
moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or
comprehension. My friend’s sister had been questioning why she was there
until she was led to minister to a fellow employee who was distressed
about a family member’s pending incarceration. My friend’s sister could
relate because she, too, has a family member who is incarcerated.
Pastor Adrian Rogers says,
“Indeed, your scars may be your greatest ministry. Just as the scars of
Jesus convinced Thomas, perhaps your scars will convince someone today.”
As Christians, we sometimes
question our calling. However, our first calling is to know Jesus. How
can we know Him better? He calls us into an intimate relationship with
Him, meaning we need to spend quality time getting to know Him through
reading and studying scripture, praying and meditating on His Word,
sharing fellowship with other believers and becoming His ambassadors. In
Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus says, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded
you.”
This scripture reveals our true calling, answering the question, “Why on Earth am I here?”
Author C.S. Lewis wrote, “In
Gethsemane the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a
certain cup might pass from Him. It did not.”
If Jesus understood God’s plan for His life, shouldn’t it be our goal to let God direct our steps also?
For more inspiration and information about Ms. Round, visit her blog at www.carolaround.com.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar