The first time I encountered the idea of my life circumstances being an assignment from God was when I got diagnosed with cancer. Because I had seen others get healed miraculously, instantaneously by God, I assumed that’s what would happen with me. But when the results kept coming back as positive, and the doctors told me I would have to undergo aggressive cancer treatment, I had to face the fact that I was not going to be healed that way. I was deeply disappointed and confused until I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You are on assignment.”

What kind of spiritual “assignment” are you in at this moment? Do you love it/hate it/tolerate it/welcome it? Mary, the Lord’s mother, likely felt all of these emotions during her unique 33-year-long assignment. Fortunately God blessed her with a supportive husband who helped her fulfill her role and shielded her from some of the shame of her unexpected pregnancy.

But very early on – a mere eight days after giving birth to Jesus – she heard rumblings of what lay ahead for her. When she and Joseph went to dedicate Him at the temple Simeon prophesied to her, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel … and a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).

Mary’s life is a vivid reminder that every assignment we receive from God comes with its own set of highs and lows, blessings and challenges. If we think we’re ever going to get some glorious ministry opportunity that does not have any drawbacks or heartaches, we’re going to be sorely disappointed. Jesus plainly told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Representing Him in a world hostile to God means trouble for us too. That’s why the apostle John warned us: “Do not love the world or anything in the world” (1 John 2:15). Love for God will enable us to face the challenges of being His disciple without flinching or demanding a release from our circumstances just because we’re uncomfortable. As the song by George Beverly Shea put it: “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold … I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”

Compared to Mary, Joseph, and the early apostles our “assignments” from God will likely look pretty ordinary and humdrum. But that doesn’t mean they’re inconsequential. God intends for every disciple of Jesus to make a difference, to impact the world in a way that testifies to God’s amazing grace. We may not understand our assignment. It may seem like a waste of our talents and passions. We may not like our assignment, and wish for something better. But if we trust that He knows what He’s doing in our lives, we will become a blessing, both to Him and to the world around us. Oswald Chambers writes,

“Which are the people who have influenced us most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those who had not the remotest notion that they were influencing us. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.”

For Mary, most of her life was spent in obscurity. From the time she was small she was likely unnoticed by anyone but her own family. Even after her exciting call to carry in her womb God’s Savior, her daily routine was about keeping her household going. No one other than Joseph knew her enormously important part in the redemption story. While her role looked commonplace, its significance was beyond measure. Even today, every Christian benefits from her willingness to submit to her God-given role.

We likely won’t know until we’re in heaven what impact we’ve had on His kingdom … how our obedience to Him in the midst of trouble, discouragement, misunderstanding, and plain old boredom influenced someone else to persevere in faith.

Of all the people in my life – and I’ve known many great, committed Christians – the person who impacted me for God the most was my grandmother. And like Chambers observed, I’m sure she never knew how much she influenced me. She was from a poor family in northern Arkansas. She got pregnant before she married my grandfather (her schoolteacher) at sixteen years of age. Her outgoing personality and sweet spirit seemed wasted on the farm where she struggled to raise five kids through the Depression. She wasn’t well educated and she never got to realize any big dreams beyond looking after her family. But oh how she impacted me for Jesus! Her faith in Him shone through everything she said and did. I decided at a very early age that if she loved Him that much, He must be pretty special. I would seek and find Him too!

If we’re following Jesus, we’re influencing someone as well. Whatever your assignment from Him is at the moment, see it as a unique way to reflect His grace to an unbelieving and dying world. Trust that as long as He keeps you there, you will have the opportunity to become more like Him and influence someone else to seek Him too.

Mary was not turned back by the downsides of her assignment. In humility she let God choose for her how she would best glorify Him. As she said to the angel in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Later, when she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, she set the example for all of us in how she embraced her new role. This Christmas and into the New Year, I hope I can reflect this kind of attitude in all the assignments that come my way.

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. … The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name” (vv. 46-49).