Where Am I "Supposed" Be?

     Recently, I have had several conversations with friends where we have wrestled with the question of, "Are we where we are supposed to be?"  Often we have a tendency to paint of picture of where we should be based purely on the fact that we are a certain age, have accomplished a certain task, or have a certain amount of knowledge.  In this vein, the sole determinant of what chapter in the journey we "should" be living are milestones that we have set; instead of being based primarily on where G-D's presence resides.  This style of life only leads to frustration by creating a glare so that we cannot see the miracles that HaShem is daily weaving for us.  

     Just weeks ago I struggled, professionally, with where I was supposed to be.  During that same time, I "happened" to be reading Numbers 9:15-23, where HaShem granted the specificity of His direction to His people.  It says, "According to the word of HaShem would the Children of Israel journey, and according to the word of HaShem would the Children of Israel encamp…" During their journey the lifting and resting of the cloud that hosted G-D's presence was what led the Israelites to either move or stay in the journey.  It was the presence of G-D that was the primary determinant of "where they were supposed to be."

     I cannot help but think of how true this is for us today. The first question we must ask when we feel the anxiousness to "move" because it seems like it's the right time is, "Where will G-D's presence be?"  The Psalmist says, "In Your Presence is the fullness of joy and in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  So, we must stay in high consciousness of where His Presence is by digging into the Word, getting godly encouragement and empowerment, and by staying before His face in prayer.  It was through a combination of all of these that HaShem, in the loving way only He can do, mercifully showed me that where I am is exactly where I am supposed to be. May we always desire His presence.