'Make the Best Use of the Time'

Have you ever felt like you didn't like where you were in life? Or maybe you're at a spot where you didn't expect yourself to ever reach. Whether it's a good place or a bad place, it might take some time for your mind and heart to catch up to what's happening around you. 

There comes a point, in any season of life, when you're going to have to accept your current circumstance. Accepting it doesn't mean you can't grow or move forward, but it's acknowledging and thanking God for where you're at in life. He's the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, so give Him praise even for today. 

If you don't like where you are currently in life, search and find why you're there. Take a note from Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

You may have come to this place for such a time as this. Right where you are, for a very special reason. A reason that affects others. You may be where you're at in order to serve others and help others. You may be where you're at to encourage others who may one day find themselves in the exact place you're in. Or to walk alongside someone who is on a similar path as you.

Your life isn't just your own, your life affects others. Ephesians 5:15-16, 17-21, shares how one should live: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is...be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit...Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

There's a reason for every season of your life. There's a reason and purpose for your life, even if it doesn't look the way you had wanted or planned.

I love how Scripture acknowledges that, "the days are evil," meaning life's too short! We must make the most of every opportunity. This includes how we treat people: "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:5-6. 

Notice how Scripture says to "make the best use of the time." Not our time or my time — but the time. The time here on earth.

But what if you really don't know what path you're on? You can't see ahead and you don't know where your life is going. Maybe you lost that job opportunity, or you and your life partner broke up, or a loved one past away and you can't see where your life can go from here. It's blank, you feel empty. But no, there's something there, there is Someone there. That space is full with God's love, grace, and mercy. His goodness and more will follow you the rest of your life. His goodness, mercy, love, kindness, grace, all are there. It's going to be ok.

Reaching and grabbing onto that hope that overflows from God is enough for that moment. Just to hold onto the Lord. Like the woman with the issue of blood — with just one touch of His garment His power left from Him and she was healed (Mark 5:25-24). It's like when life's too hard and you're just hanging in there, you can hang onto Jesus.

Everyday He is faithful. If you just search around you you will see evidence of His faithfulness.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12