What has God Assigned You to Do?

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 NLT

            Every believer in Christ has been given a specific assignment by God when we became a Christian. The problem is many Christians, me included, have a hard time figuring out what that assignment is. I retired a year ago after forty-five years in retailing, most of them in management. That was God’s assignment for me although there were times it felt like God made a mistake, or somehow, I missed his direction. Several times throughout my career, mostly during times of pressure and stress, I tried to get out from under God’s assignment only to be brought back in to where he had placed me. I regret not realizing it earlier during my retail days, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble. But the Lord made it clear to me during my final years in the job it was where He had assigned me and wanted me to be for all forty-five years.

            Jesus says, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” (Jn. 9:4 NLT) Forty-five years is a long time, but for us in retirement age, it seems like yesterday, therefore one needs to work quickly for there will be a day you will work no more. We must not squander any of the opportunities God assigns for us during our vocational years or in retirement, for a Christian never really retires. God continues to assign certain tasks and responsibilities to each of us. Those assignments are specifically designed for you. Only you can carry out these tasks as God has equipped you to reach those only you can reach.

            So, what has God assigned you to do? You may be struggling with not knowing what God’s assignment is for you, or you may feel as I have that God made a mistake. Start at the beginning, where you are right now is God’s assignment for you, it’s no mistake. Pray, read, and study God’s Word and He will direct you. Live your life as a Christian, loving God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Be a shining light in this dark world to all outside of Christ. Be sensitive to open doors and opportunities for new assignments the Lord may be leading you to. And be careful to quickly carry out those assigned tasks for we do not know when ‘the night is coming, and then no one can work.’