How Location, Time, and Resources Shape Our Lives

There are parts of every life that only God can see and connect. Our lives cannot be neatly explained from start to finish. Destiny is not a straight path. Dr Tony Evans once said, "You can be walking with God on a highway, and He suddenly makes a bend on you." These bends are what we call detours. Some examples include:

1. Unexplainable delays when you thought everything would happen in six months because you prayed and received a word from God.
2. Unexplainable lack of a spouse even after God assured you that your spouse would come soon.
3. Unexplainable loss of a job that you believed was given to you by God.
4. Unexplainable betrayal from a child that God promised would be your joy in old age.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." , Romans 8:28

These detours, sudden changes, and confusions highlight one simple truth: Destiny is not a straight line. There are hidden parts you cannot see. There are also visible parts you can see but cannot easily connect. All of this shows that there is someone behind the scenes who knows how to piece together your destiny. His name is God.

He Connects the Dots

Consider these examples from the Bible, where men and women faced various challenges, but their destinies eventually made sense.

1. Joseph’s dream of a great future in Genesis 37:5, 10 was filled with many challenges he could not understand. In the end, God connected the dots in Genesis 41:9, and his destiny made sense.
2. Abraham’s vision of a promised child in Genesis 15:4 was interrupted by many challenges he could not understand. Eventually, God connected the dots in Genesis 21:1, and his destiny made sense.
3. David’s dream of being king, even after Samuel anointed him in 1 Samuel 16, faced many struggles and delays. But in 2 Samuel 2:4, his destiny made sense.
4. Think about Ruth, Esther, and others. Saul's story in 1 Samuel 9 shows how strange events connected. A lost donkey led to a search, which took him to four cities. He failed in all of them, not knowing that God was using his failures to guide him to his destiny as king.

God connects four main elements in complex ways to fulfill His plans for our lives. These four elements may seem ordinary, but they require strong prayer, discernment, and a humble heart to understand. God works behind the scenes with these four elements: location, time, people, and resources.

The Importance of Location

The first element is LOCATION. We have discussed this before, but it is still a crucial matter. How does God connect our destinies through locations? First, locations are not just about geography. There are different types of locations.

1. Spiritual location: You must be in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. Physical location: This also has deep spiritual meaning (Deuteronomy 16:16).
3. Marital location: Where God places you in marriage.
4. Positional location: Your level in life and with God.
5. Career location: Jesus told Peter, "From today, you will catch men." (Luke 5:10)

These different locations create a spiritual map for your life. When God wants to reach you, He sends His angels to your spiritual, marital, physical, career, and positional locations.

For example, in Luke 1:26, Mary had to be in Nazareth to carry baby Jesus. Nazareth was a small, poor city. If Mary had moved to Bethlehem, she would have missed her purpose. Daniel had to be in Babylon to receive great visions. Joseph was in Egypt as a slave to fulfill his destiny. Paul needed to go to Macedonia to spread the gospel in Europe.

These locations were not chosen randomly. God connected their locational dots.

That is why in Matthew 2:4, Herod searched for WHERE Jesus was born. The enemy has a keen interest in your location, either keeping you stuck in the wrong place or pulling you from the right one. This has hurt many destinies.

"And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born." , Matthew 2:4

How to Help God Connect Your Location Dots

1. You must be saved and in Christ; this is non-negotiable.
2. Always pray about your location before making big decisions.
3. Do not view a location just with your natural eyes, no matter the challenges or advantages.
4. If things are tough in a location (not marriage), pray and seek guidance before moving (Genesis 26:1, 3).
5. Be humble; humility saved Saul in 1 Samuel 9:5 from leaving the place meant for his glory.

By doing these, you open yourself to God connecting your location dots. You will not miss your divine placement.

Real-Life Examples from Christian Professionals

Many Christian professionals say that their divine location changed their lives.

1. Dr. Ola Brown, a Christian doctor, acted on God’s guidance to move to the UK temporarily. That decision allowed her to come back and create Africa’s first air ambulance service.
2. Dr. Chioma Opara, a Christian public health expert, moved from Lagos to Ottawa. This change opened doors to roles in global health policy she could not have reached otherwise.
3. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills found his calling while in medical school, a location that led to a worldwide ministry.

Practical Advice

Treat decisions about moving as spiritual choices, not just career moves. Before accepting a job abroad or changing cities, ask: "Lord, is this my Nazareth or my Egypt?" Stay spiritually alert; your breakthrough might not be in the flashiest place but in the one God has chosen for you.

The Importance of Time

We have looked at the location element. Now, let’s discuss time. The Bible clearly speaks about time and seasons.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." , Ecclesiastes 3:1

The twists and turns of life often affect our sense of time; we feel like we are wasting away. We complain about age. But if you love God and are following His purpose, God controls the timing. He is the one who decides when it is your time.

Human referees can add time, pause, or delay things for various reasons. That is how God works. Your timing is not in your control. Here is what God says about who controls time:

"My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me." , Psalm 31:15

Romans 8:28 and Psalm 31:15 remind us that time is a key tool in God's hands. It is not in the hands of the enemy, friends, family, or a bad boss. God uses time to place you where you need to be.