Making the Most in the Worst

January 24, 2022

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT

With all the ups and downs of the last couple years every one of us have been in multiple conversations like this: “Can you believe this? This is worse than anything in my memory. What do you think is going on? This is a dark and hard world!”

Yes, in very many ways it is. But we are not alone in this generation. It has always been so. From the very beginning we have had an Enemy, and the days have been evil. But that’s not a reason to live bleakly. It’s an invitation to amazing significance and fulfillment.

Paul is not being a pessimist here—far from it. He is giving an encouraging word for our challenging days. He is saying that we must be alert and aware. The very nature of the world around us discourages us from making good decisions and using our time well. Because things are so difficult and seem so overwhelming, we are tempted to believe we can barely survive, let alone be effective. Author E. B. White (author of Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and a variety of other wonderful books) lived from 1899-1985, and he said, “When I get up in the morning I am torn between saving the world and enjoying the world. This makes it very difficult to plan my day.” Can you identify? I do—except I would add “ignoring the world” to my options.

It seems that my small acts can make such a minor difference in these “evil days” that I can just despair or ignore the opportunities in each day. I can let the moments and the opportunities slip through my fingers like sand. I pursue meaningless activities or just let my days happen, killing time. Paul flashes a blinking light to get my attention. He reminds me that God is my partner, and I must not waste my opportunities because God will not waste anything I do for and with Him. Nothing done for the kingdom of God is worthless or wasted.

Making the most of every opportunity does not mean living a driven life, overwhelmed with “what I should do” and pressure either. An opportunity is a joyful thing, not something for which I endlessly search. The dictionary says an opportunity is “a set of circumstances that make it possible to do something.” It is something GIVEN to me, not something I try desperately to create. I can get up in the morning, filled with optimism and hope because God, the great architect of the kingdom, AND the designer of my days, will present opportunities for me to make a difference for His kingdom. I simply need to be awake and alert and step into the opportunity with courage and anticipation.

• Lord, help me view my life and opportunities through Your eyes and then step into them with Your strength and courage. Amen.