When You Don’t Want To Be Where You Are

Joseph definitely did not want to be where he was. At best, an ancient Egyptian prison offered none of the comforts of home. Excessive heat, rodents, insects, and grumpy prisoners made life less than enjoyable. Joseph’s memories of past pleasantness occasionally danced around in his meditation. Life felt like an endurance contest.

Pharaoh also ordered the imprisonment of a court official who befriended Joseph. When the court official’s release drew near, Joseph pleaded with him. “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.”

How can we handle life when we don’t want to be where we are? How do we handle our own emotions and thoughts when we dislike where we are?

You’re In Good Company 

Most humans are professional self-condemners. In addition to our propensity to condemn self, we add the belief that Christians must gladly accept their circumstances. When we don’t feel glad about where we are, we double our self-condemnation.

Look at the life of Joseph.  He loved God. He retained faith in God when people and life treated him badly. But he still didn’t want to be where he was. He looked forward to release from prison. The Lord does not always demand that you want to be where you are. 

Quit condemning yourself. People who loved God, who respected God, and who believed God found themselves in places they did not want to be. And God just kept loving them. He continued working out his will for them. Rejoice. You’re in the company of victorious, godly people even though you don’t want to be where you are.

See God as Your Partner 

We often forget that Jesus was truly human. We feel somehow his divinity diminished his humanity. We visualize him overcoming the devil, defeating temptation, pleasing God without experiencing any internal emotional battles.

We’re wrong. Divinity didn’t insulate Jesus from feeling like we feel. Sometimes he didn’t want to be where he was.

The apostles often disappointed our Lord’s expectations. After watching them fail once again, Jesus blurted out, “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” For a brief moment Jesus didn’t want to be where he was.

Jesus is your pattern when you don’t want to be where you are. He isn’t displeased with you nor is he interested in rejecting you. His unfailing love surrounds you; his gentle voice assures you, “Fear not, I will help you.”

Resist the Urge to Run Away 

Absolutely horrible times swirled about a very fine child of God. Betrayed by closest friends and attacked by many enemies, this saint wanted to run away. “Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, ‘Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest….’ ” He wanted to run, but he didn’t! Feeling an urge to run away is normal. The urge does not indicate that you are an abnormal or inferior human. You can resist. The act of resisting may not lessen the strength of your desire to run away. Keep resisting; stand in the Lord’s strength. “I will be with him in trouble.” “I’ve chosen you and I have not rejected you….I will strengthen you.”

The Roman Empire banished the elderly Apostle John to a bleak Mediterranean island named Patmos. With little vegetation and much dry weather, the little island housed many prisoners. Certainly, Patmos was no place for an aged apostle to enjoy retirement. Nevertheless, there he was.

But God was also there. “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said, ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches….’ ” John’s life continues blessing us today because he didn’t run away when life treated him harshly.

Dear friends, God is where we are, so we must persevere when we don’t want to be where we are. He’s in the process of using the uncomfortable and the unpleasant to mold us into a blessing others can enjoy!

Scriptures referred to:Genesis 40:14; Matthew 17:17; Isaiah 41:13; Psalm 55:5-6; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 41:9,10; Revelation 1:10-11.