“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2 ESV
I leaned against the wall and surveyed my surroundings. Voices filled the room as friends caught up on life. But here I was, standing to the side, feeling alone in a room full of people.
“God, what am I doing here?” I silently prayed.
Internally, I tried to find a quiet way to leave. But my search for an exit strategy was interrupted by unfamiliar voices as two women kindly introduced themselves. I was grateful to have someone to talk to as we made small talk for the next several minutes. When the program began, the two ladies found their seats, and I was left standing in the back. Once again, loneliness overwhelmed my soul.
“God, what am I doing here? I hoped attending tonight would help me find a place to belong. Instead, the emptiness of not having a place to belong is overwhelming,” my soul quietly whispered to God.
Desiring a place to belong
Friend, I wonder if you also desire a place to belong. Perhaps the career you loved for years ended abruptly, and now you’re struggling to find your next step. You made it through the sleepless years of babies, enjoyed volunteering in your child’s classroom, and survived the chaotic years of being your teen’s driver. Now, you’re months away from an empty nest and wonder how to fill the unscheduled hours of the day. Maybe you spent years serving in ministry, but the Lord brought that season to an end, and you don’t know where to serve next. Perhaps you have a different situation, but like me, you find yourself asking, “Where do I belong?”.
That question lingered in my soul as I once again contemplated how to make a discreet exit. I soon realized there was no way to leave subtly, so I quietly found a seat next to my new friends. As the message began, I silently prayed, “Dear Lord, please speak to my heart and help me find a place to belong.”
God has a place for us to belong
As the speaker shared God’s message, our Heavenly Father spoke directly to my heart through Jesus’ words to His disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Jesus knew His time with the disciples was coming to an end. They would soon wonder, “What now? What do we do? Where do we belong?” Knowing the difficult days ahead, He took the time to reassure them that God had a plan for their lives and was preparing a place for them.
Friend, can I encourage your heart? Not only does God have a place for us in Heaven, but it’s also a comforting revelation to know that He has a plan, a purpose for our lives, and a place for us to belong here on Earth.
Finding a place to belong
How do we find a place to belong when we are discouraged and struggle with a change in our career, season in life, or ministry?
- Although our lives may not unfold exactly as we anticipated, we can trust that God has begun a good work in us and will complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
- We can keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Jesus and watch for Him to open new doors for work or areas of ministry. (Hebrews 12:2)
- We can invite a friend to coffee when we struggle with loneliness. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
When we feel aimless and struggle to find a place to belong, we can trust that the Lord will fulfill His purpose as we obediently seek opportunities to serve Him daily.
In His Word
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (Psalm 138:8 ESV)
Journal a prayer of thanks for God’s love and purpose for your life.
In Your Life
What steps can you take today to discover the place that God has for you to belong?
