Why. Where. When.

One of the questions that I can’t help but think as I live in Haiti is this, “Why was I born in the United States?”  I think most ponder this question at some point during their visit to Haiti.  It is a fairly common question.  Why me?  You can allow yourself to think of all the other places you could have been born and you wrestle with trying to comprehend why the Lord has placed you where you are.

Now I’m going to take this a step further.  The Lord has impressed upon me lately that He is sovereign and that He is in control.  Yes, He has chosen exactly where you are for a reason.  You have the family that you do, for a reason.  You have the neighbors that you do, for a reason.  The boss, the coworkers, the employees, the teachers, the mailman for goodness sake – you have them all for a reason.  Now, I want you to think of this – not only has He placed you exactly “where” you are for a reason, He has placed you exactly “when” for a reason.  Track with me here.  God could have placed you in any time period He wanted.  You could have been born 100 years ago, you could have been born 50 years from now!  The Lord literally handpicked you out of time and space and has placed you in the time frame that He has, for a reason.  Are you following me?  Anytime, anywhere, anyplace and He chose you to be exactly where you are, when you are, for such a time as this!  And why?  I believe it is because He is the great Author and He is writing the greatest story ever told and YOU, you my friend, get to play a part in it.  I get to play a part in it.  He is weaving and painting this beautiful masterpiece.  Ephesians 4:1a beautifully captures this, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world.”  Before the creation of the world!  Before time even existed He knew exactly when He would place you.  Not only the where but the when. 

If life doesn’t seem to make sense right now – please hear this, you have been placed exactly where you are and when you are for a reason.  You are not a mistake.  You are not an extra.  You are not overlooked.  The Lord sees you and He knows you.  He holds you in the very palm of His hands.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Be still and know that He is God.  He is good and He is doing good.