Stop Waiting for the Perfect Situation
"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’" – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Yesterday, we looked at Shamgar, a man in the book of Judges who made an impact for God despite a less-than-ideal background. Today I want to share another story that carries the same message, but from a different angle.
A young pastor once wrote to his mentor asking for a recommendation to move to another church. He explained that one woman in his congregation opposed everything he did, making his ministry frustrating and exhausting. His mentor gave the recommendation, and the young pastor soon moved several states away to begin fresh. But a few months later, he called his mentor again and said, “You’ll never believe this. That woman’s twin sister goes to my new church and treats me the exact same way!”
The truth is, you can’t run away from every difficult situation. If you believe the lie that your life would be better if only your situation changed, you will waste valuable time waiting for the perfect environment to appear. The reality is that God doesn’t wait until everything around you is ideal before He uses you. He uses you in the middle of the mess.
The Bible is full of examples. Abraham was old, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Rahab had a sinful past, David failed morally, Elijah battled despair, and Paul struggled with poor health. None of them had flawless circumstances, but all of them were used by God in powerful ways.
If you are waiting for every obstacle to disappear before you start walking in your calling, you will be waiting for the rest of your life. Your background doesn’t cancel your future, and your current challenges don’t disqualify you from being used by God.
Like Shamgar, who used the tools he had where he was, you can start where you are with what you have. God’s strength works best in weakness, and His power is not dependent on the perfection of your surroundings. Stop looking for a perfect situation. Start trusting a perfect God.
Yesterday, we looked at Shamgar, a man in the book of Judges who made an impact for God despite a less-than-ideal background. Today I want to share another story that carries the same message, but from a different angle.
A young pastor once wrote to his mentor asking for a recommendation to move to another church. He explained that one woman in his congregation opposed everything he did, making his ministry frustrating and exhausting. His mentor gave the recommendation, and the young pastor soon moved several states away to begin fresh. But a few months later, he called his mentor again and said, “You’ll never believe this. That woman’s twin sister goes to my new church and treats me the exact same way!”
The truth is, you can’t run away from every difficult situation. If you believe the lie that your life would be better if only your situation changed, you will waste valuable time waiting for the perfect environment to appear. The reality is that God doesn’t wait until everything around you is ideal before He uses you. He uses you in the middle of the mess.
The Bible is full of examples. Abraham was old, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Rahab had a sinful past, David failed morally, Elijah battled despair, and Paul struggled with poor health. None of them had flawless circumstances, but all of them were used by God in powerful ways.
If you are waiting for every obstacle to disappear before you start walking in your calling, you will be waiting for the rest of your life. Your background doesn’t cancel your future, and your current challenges don’t disqualify you from being used by God.
Like Shamgar, who used the tools he had where he was, you can start where you are with what you have. God’s strength works best in weakness, and His power is not dependent on the perfection of your surroundings. Stop looking for a perfect situation. Start trusting a perfect God.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When God Feels Silent but is Still at WorkHow to Rebound After a Crushing LetdownWhen Your World Falls Apart After You Did Everything RightGod Is Still Building Roads in the DesertThe Chapter That Comes After TraumaWhen Hope Feels GoneWhen Your Words Start Working Against YouGod’s Resume Is Bigger Than Your SituationWaiting on God is Not Doing NothingBefore Circumstances ChangeGetting In Your Bag When Life Feels UnfairWinning With a Bad HandOverlooked, Insulted, and Still ChosenPrepared in the Field Before the Giant AppearsYou Were Trained for This MomentTaking Off Armor That Does Not FitFormed in the Field, Not on the StageWhen the Battle Is Not Actually YoursWhen You Feel the Urge to Go Through God’s PhoneFaith After Disappointment Still CountsKeep Showing Up Even When You Are ConfusedLocked Doors Do Not Stop JesusWhen You Need an Encounter for YourselfDoubt as a DoorwaySaying What Hurts When God Is in the RoomWhere Faith and Fear CollideShutdown Does Not Mean FinishedWhen Opposition Shows Up Mid-ProgressBuilding Without Responding to the MockeryA Mind to Work in the Middle of WearinessThe Wall Rose Because the People Did Not Quit
February
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
No Comments