If you are following the leading of the Lord. Making decisions based on His will and not your own. Then you are right where God wants you to be. God is not going to lead you somewhere He doesn’t want you to go. That does not mean it will always be the place you want to be or look like what you want it to look like. But it is the place where God wants you to be in order to accomplish His perfect plan. As long as you are allowing the Lord to lead you then you will always be right where you are supposed to be regardless of what it looks or feels like.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Psalm 32:8 (ESV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
James 1:5 (ESV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Romans 8:14 (ESV)
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
As stated though this is dependent upon you following the leading of the Lord. If you decide to follow a sinful path then you will not be where God wants you. Instead, wherever you end up will be due to the decisions you made. God does not force us to follow His will but allows us to make mistakes. He even will sadly watch as we walk away from Him if we so choose.
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Often we think of where God wants us to be as a happy worry-free place. This can be true for seasons in our life but that doesn’t mean it will always stay that way. Or that it is the only place He wants us to be throughout our life. Look at where God put the early church. For a time they lived a life of relative ease. In which everyone shared what they had and new members were added to the church daily.
Acts 2:47 (ESV)
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 4:32–37 (ESV)
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Yet, later God allowed great persecution to come their way. Not because He wanted to hurt His people but because He had a greater purpose in it. God wanted to see His gospel message spread throughout the world. This is exactly what happened as the church began to become more and more persecuted in Jerusalem. Many believers fled but they didn’t leave the gospel behind. Instead, they took it with them wherever they went. Leading countless new souls to the Lord and salvation.
Acts 8:3–5 (ESV)
3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
God even wanted to be sure that His followers were not shocked when they were forced to stand trial before kings because that is just where He wanted them. It was a way to get the message of Jesus Christ before those who may not have ever heard it otherwise. Arrested, to court, and prison were the last places anyone ever wanted to go but that is the very place God wanted them. Because of the good work placing people in those situations was able to accomplish.
Matthew 10:18 (ESV)
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
The Apostle Paul experienced this many times after his conversion. As he often found himself at places that could have caused him to question whether he truly was where God wanted him. But time and time again it proved fruitful for the kingdom of God. As many souls were saved through his struggles and multiple imprisonments. Such as the night the Philippian jailer and his family were saved after Paul had been beaten and locked away. His time spent in chains often worked to strengthen the faith of other believers and in the lost.
Acts 16:23–24 (ESV)
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:29–34 (ESV)
29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV)
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Many scholars agree that the conversion of Saul started all the way back when he witnessed the stoning of Steven. It is believed that the faith shown by Steven had an effect on the young zealot Jew’s heart. Only helping in his conversion after his experience on the Damascus road. It is hard to believe that the perils of stoning is where God would want someone to be but that was just the case for Steven. God used a bad situation to change the life of a man who would shape our world and faith. While also allowing Steven to receive the eternal reward of peace and unending life that day. The glory of which far outweighed the momentary suffering he faced.
Acts 7:57–60 (ESV)
57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Any of these people could have wondered if they were in the place God wanted them to be. They could have worried they were not doing enough because of the times of ease they enjoyed. Or that because of all the bad they faced God had turned away from them. But the truth is that these people were where God wanted them to be because they followed His leading and not their own will. This is evident in the many great strides that were being made for the Gospel where they were.
If you are following the leading of the Lord and doing all that He has called you to do then you are right where you are supposed to be. There is no telling what you are able to accomplish through Christ because of where God has put you. Even if you are unable to see it. By living in God’s will you are accomplishing a good work. Whether you are currently facing times of ease or times of trouble, know that it is where God wants you to be. Trust in the one who is able to work all things for the good of those who believe. Knowing you are right where God wants you.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Also, remember suffering is only where God wants you to be if you are doing good and not evil. If you have continued to live a sinful lifestyle and find yourself in a bad situation that is not where God wants you. God does not want you to live in a struggle because of sin. Instead, He wants to free you from sin so you can live a better life. Note a better life and not a life without any struggle. Still, as Christians, we will struggle but our struggle is so much easier to bear because we are not forced to bear it alone like the world. Because we have Jesus to help us overcome even the toughest situations in life.
1 Peter 2:20 (ESV)
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
So I must ask you to take a moment and think over your life. Are you following the leading of the Lord? Walking in His divine will? If so, then know that you are where God wants you regardless of what your surroundings may look like. God doesn’t only lead us into the best situations as we see in His word. But will lead us into less desirable situations in order to accomplish a great work that couldn’t be done any other way.
If you haven’t been living in God’s will then know you are not where God wants you. Your struggle and trials are not accomplishing a good work but only causing pain. Make the decision to change your ways. Giving your life fully to the Lord and living in accordance with His Word and the leading of His spirit. Look for the old Godly way and begin to walk in it, not taking your own detours anymore. Then you can know with assurance that you are where God wants you to be and that where you are has a greater purpose. Ultimately leading you to eternal life and peace in Heaven.
Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
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