Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. The prompt this week is … Adjust.
Adjust – In looking into the definition of the word, I found an interesting fact. The word in its literal meaning implies having to make necessary or desirable changes in order to be properly positioned for use (from dictionary.com).
What if in these days of having to adjust to a new way of living, we are being adjusted, or positioned for our proper use, or purpose?
Years ago, I worked for a chiropractor, where patients come in for a “spinal adjustment”. The adjustment realigns vertebrae, promoting better health and relief from pain.
In these days of social, economic, educational, and emotional adjustments, perhaps the same is happening in each of us. Churches are needing to adjust to new ways of bringing spiritual encouragement to its congregations. We, as lay people, are reaching out through technology, new and old, to connect with those around us.
This idea of adjusting, being positioned for proper use, brought one Scripture to mind:
“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NIV84)
We have been positioned where we are in this time, in this place, in our families, in our neighborhoods, and in our churches on purpose and for a purpose.
Esther had no way of knowing the outcome of her being royally positioned. She had to live through her days with dependence on her God for wisdom, for words, and for opportunity. As she did, she brought deliverance to a nation, to God’s very own people.
As we sit in our homes, in the middle of this crisis, we do not know when we will be permitted to resume life as usual. The only thing we know for certain is that we are all making adjustments to our daily life. Perhaps we can think of it this way, as I take the liberty to re-word the question for us all:
“And who knows but that you have come to be adjusted for such a time as this?”
Maybe, just maybe, in this time of making adjustments, much like a spinal adjustment, we are being adjusted, aligned with God, for greater purposes than we may even realize.
Normal life may never come,
and I may never speak again,
but, my friend, where I come from,
this is all God’s perfect plan,
a grand design that need not answer
the questions of the pawn at war
with the demons born of cancer,
his back now hard against the door
that’s locked today from within,
because the Good Lord bids the pawn
that before eternal life begins
he must, for Love’s sake, still fight on
to leave a hope and legacy
that, with God, he’ll finally see.
Andrew, you are right – normal life may never come. The Lord may bring a new normal, a better way for all of us. Praying for you and Barb.
Good thoughts, Joanne. I can’t help but believe God is working out all kinds of purposes through what He is allowing.
Barbara, yes I agree and thank you for sharing. If God has allowed these events, He has purpose in it all. May we trust Him.
That has been my prayer…that He would use these days to mold me, prune me and better fit me for His service. But I like the way you worded it “being positioned for proper use.” That is good. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope you have a healthy and blessed weekend.
Jennifer, the process is a difficult one but may it be for His purposes and for good. Blessings!
That is an encouraging perspective on the word “adjust.” I’m sure God can, and will, work good in the midst of this.
Amen, Leslie!