It is not by mistake that you are who you are… that you live where you live… that you’ve been through the things you’ve experienced. God divinely ordered all those things, and more, according to His great grace and mercy.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:10 these words, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
It’s taken me a while, and I’m sure I have a ways to go, but I think I’m coming to the place of accepting that God made me the way He did and the best thing I can do is joyfully celebrate it. This is not fatalism, for fatalism is a stoic resignation to accept the inevitable. Instead I look at this as God’s sovereign grace in my life. This means He made me the way He did on purpose… for a purpose… HIS purpose.
Everything in my life… EVERYTHING… is God’s plan for me. My intellect or absence thereof… my life experiences… the friends I’ve made… my family… where I live… and on and on and on and on. They are ALL graciously, lovingly, mercifully, and providentially bestowed upon me by God. And the same is true for you too!
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 16 It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?
“By the grace of God I AM WHAT I AM,” and God does not make mistakes.
This does not mean we resign our life to whatever will be… NO! It means we work all the harder to fulfill God’s purpose for us (1 Cor 15:10 again. That was Paul’s perspective.). God’s purpose in how He makes us and brings things into our life is twofold. They are for… 1) His glory, and 2) Our blessing.
So when expected or unexpected events happen… hard times or good times take place… when plans succeed or fail… we have hope! We can rejoice! We celebrate! Why? Because of Romans 8:28-29. Indeed, we “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!”
Consider for a few moments the love, mercy, grace, and providence of God in your life. Consider that He sovereignly, providentially, and mercifully has placed you in His creation as part of His eternal plan… then rejoice in that… then live for His glory with all your might!