Placed

After more than sixteen years of working very part time from home so I could educate our children from there at the same time, I found myself back in the workforce as an Executive Assistant here at New Life in 2013. As thrilled as I was about the opportunity to serve at the church I had loved and attended for more than twenty years, I was also nervous that the skills I leaned on in the advertising world way back then wouldn’t cut it in today’s ministry world. Then two years later, I was invited to change my assignment to Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor. That invitation came with equal measures of honor and internal terror. Again, I wasn’t confident that my skills would be up to speed with the current demands of an Executive Assistant, especially to a Senior Pastor of a mega church. I had nightmares and they looked a lot like this ZzzQuil Commercial from 2016. Go ahead, take 50 seconds to watch…

Let me be clear that while my Pastor is NOTHING like Hannah’s boss in this commercial, the enemy sure is. Somehow, I had given precious space in my mind to him, and he was more than happy to send me into a mental tailspin. All those questions that Hannah’s boss asked in rapid-fire succession were suddenly firing away in my brain as well. I questioned everything about myself!

• Time management
• Ability to use the copier (Actually I was concerned it would jam on me because, well, Murphy’s Law.)
• My ability to “zhuzh” (Is it even possible to come up with another word that is any more vague than zhuzh???)
• Missing emails, missing phone calls, missing ANYthing
• Forgetting details

…and the most terrifying question….

• What am I going to WEAR?!?!

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 37:23-24

What mind space have you given to the enemy? Where have you unreasonably questioned yourself? In what ways have you not believed the Lord’s placement of you for this time and for His purpose? You, my precious friend, are placed by God. You are equipped by Him for His purposes at this very time. As Executive and Administrative Assistants we juggle a lot but we don’t juggle alone! When God places you, He also equips you. His calling comes with a promise to finish the work (1 Thessalonians 5:24). 

So stand and be bold – you bring so much to this table! You have been placed where you are by your loving Father with an assignment unique to you. Know that your Father is kind and merciful. He is with you. He is for you. And He is continually whispering…

You are adored.