where are you?

or maybe what i should ask is, where has God placed you? Who has He surrounded you with?

Acts 17: 26-28

²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

The irony of today is how it reminded me much of my experiences with my previous workplace. Amidst all the "work", I sought eternal significance and purpose to it. And while I knew it was in the relationships with coworkers, my impatience and my ambition would serve as great temptation to leave.

Today I had an encouraging conversation with a coworker of mine who has been struggling a lot in her walk with the Lord. The conversation didn't end with a definite conclusion for how she would be moving forward in her life, but it gave me great encouragement that, indeed, God is working despite what may appear on the surface. He is faithful. Sometimes He is answering our prayers without us knowing.

I didn't have time to share it a few weeks ago, but while my mom was in town, I asked her how she came to faith. Her initial answer was, "God was very patient with me. God was very patient with me". To my shock, she shared that she decided to be more intentional about "Christianity" while I was in high school! In high school, I prayed often for my family. I even persuaded my parents to do a "intro to Christianity" Bible study with me. The time would often be interrupted with, "ok..so how much longer is this, can we watch our Chinese soap operas now?"

I gave up putting forth so much effort for the rest of high school, but continued to pray. The Lord later answered my prayer gradually in my mom's life while I was in college. There was no specific time my mom shared that she had come to Christ, but that the new pastor of her church encouraged the congregants to read their Bibles, so she did, and pray, and so she did. And now, she has a relationship with Jesus! She also shared that as a child her neighbors brought her to their Baptist church. "Mom, you went to church when you were little?" Yes. My mom also shared that she used to pray each night to God when she was a little girl. Wow, how faithful our God is that about 50 years later, He would bring her back to Him! How patient, indeed!

2 Peter 3: 8,9 (NIV)

8But do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

It is my tendency to want change now, in front of my face. But what if it is in His sovereign will to bring someone to repentance....decades from now, even if it seems they are SO close? Well, it's not my call. But it is a great reminder to trust in His plan and will for EVERYONE'S life..haha...and mine, too of course.