You're Needed Where You've Been Planted

In June 2023, I was attending a Women's Bible Study and reflecting on my life and wrote this

Valuable. Whatever it is that you are doing in this season of your life or wherever it is that you have been placed. You are right where you need to be doing what you need to be doing. Believe that. And if you don’t let me help you. 

I’ve been attending bible study and one of the themes during this six week deep dive into John 17 was “individual humility is necessary for corporate unity.” Something about that just hit me and I’ve been mulling it over in my mind. 

Well, this morning, during my devotion, I was reading Philippians 2:1-11 and  verses 6 through  7 just hit me so intensely.  It says Christ Jesus “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” 

Before I explain how this impacted me, let me start with the why. In July 2022, I moved away from 84 square miles I called home (St. Croix) to the crossroads of America (Indiana). I accepted a position as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in Kentucky and was set to begin 2 days after my arrival. 

Before moving, when I announced my move and what I would be doing, those who knew me well expressed their joy with my decision to move and explore the world beyond the borders of the 84 square miles. But, many of them who were mentors and understood the requirements of the role I was entering expressed that they saw me doing something more. Something different. Basically, they saw me doing what I went to school for- Mental Health Counseling. I understood that their honesty came from a place of love and deep investment in wanting the best for my future. 

While I truly appreciated their feedback, I had an even greater mentor- Holy Spirit- and there was a knowing on the inside that while this was not the typical next step professionally, for someone with my background, this was the next step for me. This was a necessary step in the purpose I was  created and placed on this earth for. So, I rested in that awareness. I was being unconventional but I was also  being led by the Holy Spirit and I knew it. So I was quite comfortable with being unconventional. 

Well here we are almost a year into the job and what I can say is that experiences come to rattle the truth we believe. 

Resource vending machine. That’s how I feel some days. And on the days when my account barely has enough and I’m waiting for the next pay period, I’m sad to say that my mind drifts to what my  life would be like if I had my License as a Professional Counselor and could work within a practice and earn more than I currently make. Money wouldn’t be a stressor. Housing wouldn’t be an issue. I would be able to take care of my personal needs and support others in meeting their needs as well. Do you see the nice rabbit hole I was digging? 

I dug the hole even more aggressively on days when consumers cursed me out or I couldn’t help someone in the way they needed. Immediately after the interactions, my thoughts would be “I hate this job.”  But God came for me and I have begun asking Him to help me have His heart for the work I do on days when it is tremendously difficult; because really  what I hate is feeling inadequate and not being able to help people in the capacity I envisioned when I went to school to become a counselor. 

So, now that you have some context, let’s talk about why versus 6 through 7 were so impactful. In case you forgot it amidst my chatter here it is again. Christ “⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.” 

Jesus was supreme before He came to earth. He had a  high position. He was in great standing. He was from a MIGHTY KINGDOM. But He chose to do the unconventional. He gave up that power and prestige and He stepped into a new role and in this role He had significantly less than what He had when He was residing in the Kingdom. BUT, He didn’t consider it robbery. Verse  8 tells us that instead,  “being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.”

Let me say it the way it resonated for me- Being in this new position, different to what He is used to, he surrendered to what was required of Him in the given position and season of life. Doing so, He fulfilled the requirements rather than resist it and thereby fulfilling His purpose and becoming the sacrificial lamb which died for our salvation.

It gets even better, because of His surrender, He was exalted by God and now has “a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

While processing all of this, 1 Peter 5:6–7 came to mind. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. . .”

God had been bringing it up from time to time and I've been processing its application to my life. Today the lightbulb went off! By submitting and becoming human after  experiencing divinity, His cooperation with God’s plans led to His promotion! He didn’t lose power by giving up Kingdom, He actually gained the Kingdom and Greater Power. He took back the keys of Hell, death, and the grave  (Revelation 1:18)!!! And now JUST THE MENTION of His name requires bowing. He had to lose to gain (Philippians 3:8) but really He never lost. 

 So how does this relate to individual humility necessary for corporate unity? We all play a part in the success of any goal, mission, or vision pursued but sometimes we may feel our role is unimportant or we have been tasked with doing something of little importance or something that does not make us shine.

As I stood in worship today, I couldn’t help but notice that there were instances when the drummer would begin to play  more lightly or wouldn’t play at all because that segment of the song didn’t require her to play. The absence of her beats didn’t mean that she suddenly became less significant. Just like when Jesus laid down divinity and came to earth, He didn’t become less significant to God. The drummer’s ability to know when to play and when to cease and let others play actually made her more valuable to the worship.  Same with Jesus. Laying down His life and letting go of the Kingdom, made Him even more valuable to the Kingdom. 

Let us remember Jesus and the drummer whenever we find ourselves we are called to the unconventional or unexpected seasons. Let us not count it robbery. Let us not think that an opportunity is being taken away from us. 

My hope is that, in each instance that we are doing the unusual or the unpreferred,  we recognize that we are actually being given an opportunity to contribute to something much bigger than ourselves. We are more valuable than we think in unconventional roles and our willingness to put on humility and serve in that role with excellence contributes to overall success for everyone involved. 

My women's study Bible defines humility as dependence on God and Respect for others. So let’s cast our cares on Him knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) and will promote us to the next season in our lives at the right time. 

Lord, thank you that You have chosen us before the foundations of the world and prepared good works for us to accomplish. Father, give us eyes to see what You are doing. Help us to have hearts ready and willing to accomplish the purposes and plans you intended for our lives. Forgive us for when we complained about the seasons and places You have taken us and compared them to places and seasons we have been or wanted to be instead. Forgive us for letting the difficulties cloud our judgment. Help our hearts be willing participants in accomplishing Your purposes and plans in our lives. Help us to practice humility in the places, spaces, and relationships You have placed us in, knowing that there is greater work being accomplished as we commit to daily acts of faithfulness where we have been planted and surrender to your will. Thank You for leading and guiding us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!