I've been working in the real world now for a few months, and as some of you probably know my job isn't the most glamorous. I'm at work at 6:30 in the morning, which means I have to get up at 5 in the morning. I've worked as late at 8:30 at night. I've worked Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (Labor Day). I've been yelled at by people who aren't in positions above me for things that aren't my fault. Sorry, I didn't intend on complaining that much. Recently, I began to ponder why God has me there. I definitely feel that I'm where I should be, and I felt the same way when I took the job.
In church they often give a sermon similar to "Six Steps for Determining God's Will in Your Life". [If we've actually covered that in the last year, would someone please let me know?] I've talked a little bit with my roommates and given it a great deal of thought, but it took me awhile to really come up with a reason. And it didn't take me thinking through six steps, or sitting meditating, or even talking with a friend. I'm not knocking any of those routes, but God is not limited to those routes. In fact, rarely does God speak to me that way. Usually I'll spend some quality time in the scriptures, and some time praying, AND talking with friends. Then, some time later, long or short, the answer will just pop into my head.
This is, of course, the case with why I believe God has me at my current job. I was sitting with other members of my "_______ Team" last night and it hit me. God has me there because he wants me to be disciplined. In order to be good at my job, but really more importantly, to be successful outside of work, I need to be very disciplined. It's HARD to go to bed on time when every single one of your friends can stay up several hours later. It's hard to make lunches (that is, if you bother to make your own lunch) the night before. It's hard to shave and get clothes together the night before in order to save time in the morning. It's hard to get up on time and not hit the snooze button on my cell phone so I can have time to eat breakfast and read a chapter of Proverbs. Blah, blah, blah...
The point is I really think God wants me to be much more disciplined than I am. It's pretty easy to be a college student with no discipline, but it's another story to work 45-50+ hours a week and do college ministry. But that's where I want to be. Just wanted to share something God spoke to me about this last week. Thanks for reading.