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It’s not always clear how God is working in — and through — our lives. However, the places and situations that are “unchosen” by us are chosen by God to achieve His perfect plan.

The Unchosen Places

I didn’t choose this… And if I did have a choice I probably wouldn’t of.

I just found myself here, certain that God was leading me. Many of our decisions are made like this; we see a need and feel prompted by the Spirit to attend to it.

Whether we have resources on hand or not, we believe He will provide all that’s needed.

God’s Purposes

The other night, driving home alone from dropping the older kids to youth group, I spot two guys outside a family’s house trying to get a car started. I stopped to see if they needed assistance.

I felt it in my heart to stop. They needed jumper leads, so I went back home, picked up Paul, got some jumper leads and out we went.

Now, you might contend that this is not a very spiritual example, but it’s more important to ask whether God’s purposes were accomplished?

I believe so.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t stop to help, especially when travelling alone at night. That wouldn’t have been my choice, but that night that’s where I found myself.

God’s Choices Are Not Always Comfortable

Last week Paul and I got called out to a domestic. Paul chose to respond to God’s leading.

We found ourselves in an unchosen place. It was uncomfortable. For nearly two hours we were there. We each took turns praying, crying, packing the car, unpacking the car, and wanting to bolt out of the situation.

Visible outcomes? Nope.

Measurable outcomes? Not really.

God’s purposes accomplished? Absolutely.

(Do I understand this in full? No. Not at all.)

Jesus Is Our Example

I wonder if going to the cross was what Jesus would have chosen without being led there by his Father? I doubt it.

“And he withdrew from them about a stones throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.'” Luke 22:41-42

He was willing — not for the cross alone, but for the outcome of the cross and the will of the Father.

“Yet not my will, but yours,” he said.

I wonder if he was weeping as he said this? There are many times I have pleaded with the Father to let this cup pass, but, instead, it stayed.

Have you experienced that appointing — that call — to something you wouldn’t ordinarily choose, wrapped in a crystal clear certainty that comes from God alone?

The will of the Father may not be revealed the moment we say yes, or a week down the track. The outcome may not even be visible or measurable.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Seek the Lord; Lean on Him

In the unchosen places that we invariably find ourselves in, we need to seek the Lord; lean on Him, into Him.

Worship.

Soak in His Word.

Listen to Him.

If we sit, waiting (often not so patiently!) for when the Lord releases us from this unchosen place, we will miss all he wants to teach us.

“For as the rain and snow come down from Heaven and do not return there but water the Earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the water, so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10)

We may think that we know the reason God is intending this unchosen place.

We map out the trajectory in an attempt to try and make ourselves and the situation feel comfortable and even acceptable.

We will never know all the reasons God has us in this unchosen place, but we can be assured that He has chosen each of us and placed us here, for such a time as this.

He is a defender, provider and all-sufficient living God.

ALWAYS.

Let’s pray for each other in our unchosen places and seasons, and as we draw near to Him, may we have full confidence that His purposes are being accomplished.

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Originally published on Ephraim House. Image by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash.