What if what God wanted you to do was to make a good shoe, would you be ok with that?
What if the way that God wanted to use you in this generation to inspire others towards faith in Him was right where you are, doing exactly what you’re currently doing, would you be ok with that?
As the story goes, after this individual put his faith in Christ, he looked at Martin Luther and asked, “What should I do with my life now?” The man was assuming that Martin Luther would tell him to leave everything to be a missionary somewhere else. Martin Luther asked a simple question “Well, what do you do now?” The man answered, “I am a cobbler, I make shoes.” To the man’s surprise, Martin Luther looked at him and said, “Then make a good shoe.”
I love this story because it reminds me of a simple, yet amazing truth. God will use me where I am, doing what I’m doing so that those around me might catch a glimpse of just how great He is. But here’s the key to what Reformer Martin Luther said… ‘Make a good shoe.’ In other words, do what you do not begrudgingly, but with great gratitude trusting that God will use your best efforts in what you do to help others see Him. What might seem as insignificant to you (like making a shoe) will actually be used by God in ways that you might not ever see, but just because you cannot see it does not mean that God is not using your work to help others see Him.
Too many times, we do a poor job where we are because we are daydreaming of how much better we could be doing if we were somewhere else. But far too often, somewhere else never happens (at least how we want) and we miss doing a good job where we are. Where you are is where God has planted you… for now. If He sees fit to move you to somewhere else, then He can, and He will. But as long as you are where you are, do the best you can do at what you’re doing trusting that He is using you to help others around you see Him.
The argument often goes “I want to be used by God to do great things… I want to speak, and write and be in positions of influence so I can use that influence to encourage people towards God.” Yes, there are times when God calls certain people in certain places at certain times in history to do what we deem as ‘extraordinary.’ Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, David, Solomon, Deborah, any of the prophets, Mary, the disciples and the apostle Paul – all of these men and women were used by God in extraordinary ways.
But, before we knew these characters as we know them now, they grew where they were rather than where they wanted to be. A laborer, wanderer, prisoner, shepherd, assistant, widow, to the least among many – each of these characters have one thing in common. God called them from what they were doing to do something new, something He wanted, rather than what they were asking for.
In other words, if God has something ‘unique’, ‘special’ or ‘different’ for you, He will let you know what that it is, when that it is and the steps you are to take towards that. But until then, enjoy growing and doing what you do with absolute excellence where you are, trusting that God is using you to accomplish more than you can see.
If you’re a teacher, be the best teacher.
If you’re a stay at home mom, be the best stay at home mom.
If you’re a nanny, be the best nanny.
If you’re an engineer, be the best engineer.
If you’re a consultant, be the best consultant.
If you’re a programmer, be the best programmer.
If you’re a designer, be the best designer.
If you’re a photographer, be the best photographer.
If you’re in janitorial services, be the best custodian.
If you’re an electrician, be the best electrician.
If you’re a plumber, be the best plumber.
If you’re a doctor, be the best doctor.
If you’re a nurse, be the best nurse.
If you’re a financial planner, be the best financial planner.
If you’re an investor, be the best investor.
If you’re a student, be the best student.
If you’re an administrator, be the best administrator.
If you’re a construction worker, be the best construction worker.
If you’re in law enforcement, be the best in law enforcement.
If you’re in the military, be the best service man/woman.
If you’re in real-estate, be the best realtor.
If you’re in business, be the best business man/woman.
And if you are a cobbler, then be the best cobbler – make a really good shoe! Be encouraged to know that God will use you right where you are, doing what you’re doing with excellence, integrity and character to help those around you see how awesome He truly is.
