Not What You Expected

"But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.'" — Acts 9:15 

Is God using you the way you thought He would?

You might think that God would have used Paul, a man who was well versed in what Jews believed, to minister to the Jews. Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, and a Jew of Jews. He was radically committed to the agenda of Judaism. It would seem logical that God would send him to the Jews because he could speak their language, and he understood their culture.

Instead, God sent him to the Gentiles.

Think about that. Paul had the perfect resume for Jewish ministry. He studied under Gamaliel, one of the most respected rabbis. He knew the Law inside and out. He understood Jewish culture deeply. Any church planting strategist would say, "Send Paul to the Jews!"

But God said, "No. I'm sending him to the Gentiles."

Paul received that ministry with open arms. He didn't argue with God. He didn't say, "But Lord, I'm qualified for something else!" He trusted that God knew what He was doing.
How many of us are fighting God's plan because it doesn't match our expectations? You prepared for one thing, but God is calling you to something completely different. You have skills in one area, but God is opening doors in another.

Maybe you thought you'd be in business, but God keeps putting ministry opportunities in front of you. Maybe you trained for one career, but God is clearly leading you somewhere else. Maybe you expected to serve in one way, but God is asking you to serve differently.
Stop resisting God's redirection. Paul could have spent his whole ministry trying to convince God to send him to the Jews. Instead, he embraced God's unexpected plan—and God used him to turn the world upside down.

God's plan for your life might not make sense to you. It might not match your training, your expectations, or your preferences. But His plan is always better than yours.
Receive it with open arms. Trust Him. He knows exactly what He's doing with your life.