By Yalanda Merrell, Director of Audience Engagement • Lifeword
After graduation, I submitted my resume to five TV stations. I applied and sent my masterfully crafted resume tape to four places that were close (one in Jonesboro, two in Little Rock and one in Memphis) and one to a dream station (Hawaii). Why not?
I received a call from the local station, KAIT in Jonesboro, and went for my interview. Within a few weeks, I signed a contract to become a reporter for them.
It was a bit surreal. Growing up, we could get two channels — KAIT and PBS, but PBS was so full of static you couldn’t watch it much. This was the TV station I had grown up watching. Did I fangirl just a bit when they showed me my desk and I realized it was literally just one away from Diana Davis — KAIT? Sure! Who wouldn’t?
Even while I was excited and felt like I had truly accomplished something by being there, I received an email that made me rethink my decision. Two weeks after signing my contract, an email arrived in my inbox. A station out of Little Rock wanted to interview me. The “I’m living the dream” mindset from just moments earlier suddenly shifted. Was I missing out? Could I do more there? It offered more money. Some people wait for a few years to gain more experience before getting an offer. It was a larger city with a bigger market. It could be a chance to really make a mark, to advance my career, to… Wait. What was going on here?
I thought back to my family, the town I grew up in, the people whose stories I would get to tell. Isn’t that what truly mattered? I made my decision.
I had already made a commitment to this station, and I was going to honor it. I didn’t have to move to a bigger city to do this job and be successful. That opportunity was already here.
“Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches. For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments. Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you. Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you — but if you get a chance to be free, take it. And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Dear brothers and sisters, each of you should remain as you were when God first called you” (I Cor. 7:17-24 NLT).
Paul continues to answer questions that the Corinthians were confused about. When they became believers in Christ, they wanted to make huge, drastic changes that weren’t necessary. It wasn’t about following traditions. It was about obeying Christ and fulfilling His purpose. Paul wanted them to know that God could use them right where they were. Unless the place was immoral and threatening, Paul wanted them to know something important — something we need to know too.
Many times, we get caught up in the idea that we could be doing something great for God somewhere else. But what if God called you because of the place you’re in right now? Are there people in your workplace who need to know Christ as their Savior? Is there someone in your family who needs salvation? Allow God to use you right where you are. A mighty change has happened within you when Christ saved you. Let Him use you here, now, in the very place where you are.
Does God move us to a place where He chooses to use us? Absolutely. But let that be a decision from Him and not us.
Do you want to know more about what it means to have a relationship with Christ and follow Him daily? Go to follow.lifeword.org and now in Spanish at follow.lifeword.org/spanish.
Start today. Live for Christ. Right where you are.
