With all of the uncertainty still going on in the world today, I wanted to take a moment and remind each one of us that God is still God, and we’re made for this moment! Throughout scripture, God reminds us that nothing catches Him off guard, and He is always in control. One of my favorite passages in the bible is Jeremiah 1:4-10 (NIV), which says,
“4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
I love this text because it reminds me of the truth, I am made for this moment…and so are you! Regardless of our situations or circumstances, the Lord God, our Creator, the One who made all things, has a vision and plan for us. We are created with “A” purpose so that we can live “ON” purpose! Unfortunately, far too often, we don’t live out that purpose for a variety of reasons. We choose to live in mediocracy, instead of maximizing the greatness within us. We compromise the vision God has for us by living according to the image we have for ourselves or the idea that others have for us. When it comes to living on purpose, the ultimate goal should be the commitment to stop settling for “worldly” status, standards, and stuff! That will only begin when we eliminate our negative thinking. Why? Because perspective is everything. That’s why Paul admonishes us in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things!”
As I reflect on this passage in Jeremiah, I believe there are a few reminders we can all glean from to encourage us during times of distress, discomfort, or despair. These reminders that the Lord shared with Jeremiah are very applicable to each one of us today. The Lord told Jeremiah:
- Remember Your Identity (vs. 5): More than titles or numbers, our identity, first and foremost, is that we are sons and daughters of God. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…!
- Resist Insecurity (vs. 7-8): Being a person of faith requires belief in ourselves that we are made for this moment, even though we’ve never experienced a moment like this before.
- Reject Conformity or Traditionalism (vs. 10): Everyone talks about the “new normal.” I believe, now more than ever, as leaders and believers, we must challenge every process, think beyond the box, and be willing to do what has never been done!
So, what does this all mean? Well, if you know you are truly made for this moment, then you will have no problem:
- Embracing the Ambiguity – We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
- Pushing through Adversity – Tough times don’t last always, but tough people do!
- Resting in God’s Ultimate Authority – God is still omniscient and omnipotent, which means He knows everything, and He is all-powerful!
God said in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!” and Proverbs 3:5-6encourages us to, “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Friends, you are made for this moment! And in my humble opinion, the only way we maximize the moment and leverage our influence is by standing on the truths found in God’s Word and remembering that the Gospel is still the hope for our world!