One of my favorite parts of Home Assignment is spending time at our organization’s office with other workers, hearing about the ministries they are involved with and how they’ve seen God at work. It’s exciting and inspiring, but I must admit, sometimes I can feel the beginning of jealousy and discontent as I listen to the stories of my colleagues. Why don’t I have these opportunities? Why don’t I get to see the same kind of fruit in my ministry? Am I in the right place? Am I doing the right thing?

My heart starts to long for something different, something more. While God often uses those longings to bring us out of our comfort zones and to do great things for Him, sometimes, I think God uses those thoughts and feelings to teach us to surrender to His plans for our lives, to be content in what He has entrusted us with.

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she would give birth to the Son of God, Mary’s response was complete trust and contentment in God’s calling. “I am the Lord’s servant,” she said, “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). She didn’t ask for more explanation, although I’m sure she would have loved some details. She didn’t ask for a different path, although surely she understood the challenges she would face when her pregnancy became known. She was content in her calling.

God has put in us in a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose. His calling comes with challenges; it comes with uncertainties. We may feel inadequate or maybe we feel overqualified. Perhaps we struggle with seeing the value in our work, or maybe it’s difficult to serve day in and day out without seeing fruit. Maybe we imagined our lives going in a different direction, or maybe we can’t see the direction we are headed at all.

We can respond to where God has us with frustration, discouragement, or even jealousy of others and others’ ministries. Or we can respond like Mary did, content in knowing that God has called us, that He has a plan, and that He will equip us for whatever He has waiting for us.