Your Unique Context

God created every man with his own unique identity, gift, abilities, family, and environment that will nurture and build needed values for him to fulfil destiny.

But because we don’t like certain aspects of our lives, we sometimes ask these questions: ‘Why will God allow this to happen to me? Why am I from this family, this country, or why do I look like this?’ — and so on. 

We must understand the reason why certain things happen to us. We also have to understand the sovereignty of God. He is the one that gives one 5 talents, another two talents, and another one talent based on their ability. 

This brings us to our discussion; “Your unique context”.

The word context means the circumstances or environment that forms an idea. It’s the frame of reference in which something is understood. 

Every one of us is an idea, a thought in the mind of God before we came into existence. Like David shared in Psalm 139 vs 16, “all of my days are written in your book.”

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:15-16

God has planned your life, He designed your frame, and He built in you and your surroundings what is needed to fulfil your purpose.

There are different types of seeds and each of them has a particular soil, environment, temperature, water, and pH level it must be subjected to for it to germinate and be fruitful. Similarly, you have the right specification, family, background, and relationships needed for him or her to get to the desired future God has for you.

Therefore, we all have our unique contexts, and our frame of reverence, the circumstances in which our lives can be fully understood. 

Let’s look at the life of Joseph: God’s plan for Joseph was that through him the nation of Israel would be preserved. Although he was the favourite son of his father, he couldn’t fulfil God’s purpose for his life in his raw state. He had to go through different situations, and events to get to the state where he could establish the counsel of God for his life. 

Another example is David: David had to learn to be a shepherd, he needed to fight a bear and a lion for him to prepare for the life he was destined for, while Solomon his son lived the so-called soft life without fighting a single war. 

In essence, every man has been set in situations that will make them fit to fulfil their life mission if they truly can maximize the life they have been given including challenges. 

Maybe we might want to ask if negative experiences are part of God’s plan for us. While God doesn’t do evil, He knows how to make the negative experience and the good experience walk together for our good. Let’s look at Jabez, he was named “sorrow” from birth, but when he got to appoint he knew there must be a shift in his life, he sought the Lord and He enlarged him, turning his story around. 

This is why I want to point out the issue of “comparison”. Because of your unique context, there is no basis for comparison. 

Comparison

But they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12b

In chemistry, there is a term called STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure). It is used to standardize the properties of gases. Gases behave differently at different temperatures and pressures. Therefore, STP is relevant to chemistry because it allows for the consistent and comparable measurement of the properties of gases. 

While gases can behave the same way if they are under the same condition (STP), no man has the same background, experiences, challenges etc. Even an identical twin has a different genetic makeup, different abilities, inclinations and different attitudes to things. Life doesn’t give us an equal balance to begin with. Therefore, there is no basis for comparison because of the context of our lives. 

My friend shared something with me recently, she said whatever adversity we go through, God knows that we have the unique ability to overcome it. So, don’t wish your life away, don’t compare yourself with another, don’t wish to be in another person’s shoes. Go through your process and the dealings of God in your life. 

There is a story God wants to tell through your life, there are works He wants you to do based on your unique wiring if you will allow Him. This means that man has no reason to compare himself with another. God is weaving a beautiful tapestry of your life, allow Him. 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Let me leave you with this quote I found: 

One thing that kills a man easily is COMPARISON. Know in your head and heart that you are different from others not just only in appearance but also in everything. You won’t be successful with your peers at the same time, and you won’t have the same level of wealth. Accepting this makes it easy for you to appreciate God and yourself.