In this article, I want to show you that there is nothing new under the sun, as far as, not being where you want to be in life, dealing with unethical practices in the work place, and the injustices that come about as a result of such things. More than anything, I want to leave you with a sound foundation of hope that you can grow personally, improve upon your unique gifts, and become very competent despite where you are now in life.

We need to grow where we are planted, by improving upon our unique gifts, by growing spiritually, by growing physically, and by growing mentally. We can complain and cry out in anger about where we are in life, unethical practices in our workplaces and the injustice of it all. However, where will that take you bitterness, anger or depression? And more importantly - is that where you really you want to go? No, it will take you nowhere unless, - 1.) You put to gather a plan that will help you grow despite where you are now in life and 2.) You realize that you are not the only one to have gone through what you have encountered in life.

Let's go back in time and look at some Israelite youths in the book of Daniel, who where taken from their homes as captives to Babylon. Not only where they taken against their will, but they where now in an environment that ran in opposition to their moral and ethical beliefs.

Complaining would not have gotten Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego very far. So how did these Jewish youths handle their situation? Well, they stuck to their moral and ethical teachings. They put God first in all they did and grew spiritually. They followed Gods directives and grew physically. They grew mentally by putting together a plan of action to master all the literature and science of the time. Each became very competent as they mastered these skills.

At the end of three years, the King called all the young men in the palace to him, including Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and gave each one an oral examination. The king was so impressed with Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that he put them on his regular staff of advisors. (Dan 1:20) "And in all matters requiring information and balanced judgment, the king found these young men's advice ten times better..." than any other advisor. Daniel was appointed as the king's counselor. These young men where not limited by where they where planted. Ethics, growth, and competence took these young men far.

Even though some of our present situations leave a lot to be desired for, you have to admit it was not as bad as these guys situation. However, they grew spiritually, physically, and mentally where they where planted - despite life's injustices and the unethical environment. They grew and developed despite where they where planted. You too can grow and develop right where you are.

So, what are you doing to grow spiritually in your everyday life? What are your goals for physical growth? What are you doing now to feed and promote your growth mentally? What are the gifts that make you special and what are you doing with them? These are serious questions that each of us need to answer for ourselves. Not only do we need answers for them, but we need to set goals in place and the action steps to accomplish those goals.

So maintain your moral values and ethics; seek ways to grow spiritually, physically, and mentally; and become highly competent where you are planted. By growing and improving upon your unique gifts you will be ready for life's opportunities. And when opportunity comes - you shall rise above where you are now.

I have shown you that there is nothing new under the sun, as far as, not being where you want to be in life, dealing with unethical practices in the work place, and the injustices that come about as a result of such things. I trust that I have left you with a sound foundation of hope that you can grow and improve upon your gifts despite where you are now- just like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Remember each of them where human just like you and I with the same human weaknesses as you and I. They rose above where they where planted and you can too.

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