In church recently my pastor spoke about Acts 17:26 and how each of us was made by God for a reason. It wasn’t a just coincidence that I was born 22 years ago or that I was put in Austin, Texas three months ago because my job relocated me.

Oftentimes it’s easy for us to forget the simple fact that with God everything happens for a reason.

Sometimes working so hard in my job distracts me from what God has set me on earth to do—serve others. But, the neat thing is our ministry doesn’t have to begin after our normal work hours, when school is let out or at the once a year mission trip. It’s something we should be doing constantly and enjoy doing it too!

It’s incredible to think about the kind of impact I can make on young men’s lives in my job by having the heart of Christ. I can boost high schoolers self esteem by telling them “Hey you did great out there! Nice hit!” or “Don’t let the loss get you down. Take care of it next week!” Instead of just interviewing them about their post-game reactions. If I saw an opportunity I could possibly help an inner city kid get a scholarship to play football in college. But, the kids aren’t the only ones that need my encouragement. I have the opportunity to help coaches and families who also need positive feedback on the job their doing.

It doesn’t matter if you love what you do every day or you don’t. You have the chance to change the atmosphere around you. To show people that you really do care and you want to see them succeed. Sometimes all it takes is just listening to their story. You weren’t just put in commercial real estate because you were good at making sales or put in accounting because you’re good at math. You were put there because God saw a way He could use you.

In the 2011 ESPY Awards, Anthony Robles, the 2010-2011 NCAA Individual Wrestling Champion from Arizona State University, who was born with only one leg, won the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. Robles knows very well that the creator of the universe makes no accidents. In his acceptance speech he said, “Every soul that comes to earth with a leg or two at birth must wrestle his opponents knowing it’s not what is but what can be that measures worth.”

Today as you head into your workplace, school or practice I challenge you to open your eyes a little wider and ask God why He put you where He did. And what purpose He has for you today. When you don’t want to be in another hot practice, try taking the focus off yourself and put it on the person running beside you. Encourage them. What you’ll probably find is that God has a bigger plan for your life than you had for yourself.