Important Truth – You Were Created For This Time And Place
Think about it. You were created for this location and moment in time. God chose to design someone with your unique personality, gifts, and abilities to accomplish His purposes in this generation.
It’s easy for us to feel insignificant and unimportant, but the truth is each of us is dearly loved and precious to God. Whether we live for a moment or a century, we are all here to make a difference.
I’ve been thinking about Mordecai’s words to Queen Esther after Haman had orchestrated a plan to annihilate the Jewish people…
“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:13–14 (NKJV)
The Life Application Bible Notes add…
While the book of Esther does not mention God by name or title, His presence fills the pages. Esther and Mordecai believed in God’s care, and because they acted at the right time, God used them to save His people.
When you face challenges in life, seek to know what God wants you to do, and then do it, confident that He will do His part.
God gave a humble, orphaned Jewish girl named Esther everything she needed to become marry King Xerxes and become Queen. Then He gave her the courage she needed to go to the King and save her people.
Do you ever feel like you’re too small and unimportant to be used by God for anything of real importance?
Here’s a word of encouragement…
- God used David, a shepherd boy, to kill a giant and save His people. (1 Samuel 17)
- God chose Mary, a poor teenage girl, to be the mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:26–38)
- God called Paul, a persecutor, to spread His Gospel in the world. (Acts 9)
- God selected Ruth, a poor young widow, to be the grandmother of King David. (Matthew 1:5)
- Jesus used the lunch of a young boy to feed 5,000. (Matthew 14:13–21)
God’s Word shows us that the Lord can use any life surrendered to Him.
David, the shepherd boy who became King of Israel, wrote…
You saw me before I was born.
Psalm 139:16–17
Every day of my life was recorded in Your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
Yes, God created us for His plans and purposes. If we are here, we are still part of His plans, and we still have a purpose.
Paul, the persecutor, transformed into an Apostle, wrote…
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10
Don’t give up!
My dad turned 101 years old last month. As we enjoyed one of our FaceTime calls, he said, “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
I shared with him a reminder I needed myself.
- I encouraged him to spend time in prayer.
He told me that’s what he spends most of his time doing. And…
- I shared one of Rev’s favorite verses with him.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 2:8
Remember that if God has given us this day to live, we are here for His plans and purposes. He created us for “such a time as this.” Even this time for us means spending our time in prayer, focused on Him.
This past week, the Lord called my Dad home to Himself. I’ve imagined him spending his time praising his Savior, Jesus, and celebrating a beautiful reunion with my Mom, Rev, and the many family members and friends who have gone before.
Trust God’s timing and His will. He is accomplishing His will even when we can’t see it or don’t understand.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Trust God in This Time and Place
Heavenly Father, Your Word says that I am Your masterpiece. It says You had plans and purposes for my life even before it began. I’m so often guilty of focusing on my weaknesses and the things I’m unable to do without prayerfully asking You about the things You want for me. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.
Thank you for Your Word and for telling us about the ways You accomplished Your plans through generations of people You appointed. You created Noah to build an Ark, and Jacob to father a nation. You created and appointed Samuel to counsel kings, and Solomon to write words of wisdom.
Chapter after chapter, Your word reminds us that we are not alone. You created unique individuals to fulfill Your will and gave us a record of their successes and failures. Through every imperfect life, we learn that Your perfect love lasts forever.
Father, I surrender myself to You. I love You. Please help me TRUST and OBEY as You desire. When I don’t understand Your ways, please help me remember that You can use the smallest of acts to accomplish great things. You can feed thousands from a child’s simple lunch. You can change hearts and minds through prayer and small kindnesses.
Please help me focus on things that are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” Thank you for a father who taught me to SEEK, KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, and OBEY You. Help me live today and every day for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Friend, may we be confident in our God-given uniqueness.
Rick Warren wrote…
“You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. … Long before you were conceived by your parents, you were conceived in the mind of God. He thought of you first. It is not fate, nor chance, nor luck, nor coincidence that you are breathing this very moment. You are alive because God wanted to create you!”
Don’t be afraid or discouraged…
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Trust the Lord and live with hope…
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
And celebrate your unique look, personality, abilities, voice, likes, dislikes, and so much more. God made you because He wanted someone just like you at this time and place.
I’m so glad He made you. You were created for this. I can only imagine the wonderful ways He is using you for His glory.
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Thanks for this beautiful reminderDeb. Its easy to forget in ordinary days, but so grounding: we are known, seen, and placed right where we are with purpose. Have a blessed day.
Thank you for your kind words, Mervin. I agree. It can be easy to forget. We often get so caught up in our routines that we fail to take thought of all that the Lord is doing in us and through us. I appreciate your visit here and that you took the time to graciously add to the conversation. God be with you and bless you!
Deb,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. I know that no matter what the age of our parents, when they are gone we can feel so lost and truly like an orphan. He sounds like he was such a good day and I know one thing, he sure produced a wonderful, spirit filled daughter in you.
You are in my prayers and thoughts now and always.
God Bless You, my friend, the way you have blessed me!
Thank you, Sue. You’re right. I was blessed by a wonderful Dad and amazing husband. It leaves me having moments when I have to pause and remember that my Heavenly Father is always with me and I am not alone. You are such a blessing. Your encouragement means so very much to me. Many blessings to you, dear dear friend!
What an incredibly long life your father had, Deb! You were blessed to have him in your life for so many years. Yes, God has created every one of His children with a purpose for the time and place we are in. May we seek to know His will for us each and every day that we might bring His kingdom here on earth. Blessings!
Thank you, Martha! The Lord has been good to us. My Dad enjoyed many years of good health and a love for life. I’m standing with you asking the Lord to guide us and give us everything we need to trust and obey His plans and purposes. God bless you, dear friend!
Faith for the generations…Thank you for inspiring me Deb with always the right words and the verses to hold them up. May you celebrate your loved ones lives here on earth as they celebrate being together with our Father God.
Amen!
Thank you, JoAnne! We are so blessed by their legacy of faith and hope in the Lord. God bless you!