Although
there are many certainties for disciples of Christ, there are enough uncertainties
to keep life unpredictable.
My
wife & I became aware that God was calling us to minister overseas between
1994 & 1996. But it took another six years until we finally arrived in the
Philippines in April 2002. During that season between awareness &
fulfillment, we experienced much more uncertainty than we had ever before
imagined possible.
Why
was this time of uncertainty (which really seemed like an eternity) necessary?
First,
it was a time to clarify exactly what God was saying to us. You may have
noticed that when God puts something in your heart, it’s easy to read all kinds
of things into it that He may not necessarily be saying. Time is required to
sort that out.
Second,
God needs time to prepare us for what He wants to accomplish thru us. In my
case, four of those six years we spent serving at a church where I learned a
lot of things about leadership. I needed to learn those things in order to pass
them on to the pastors I serve here.
Third, how
big is your vision of what God wants to do in & thru you? Is it so big
that, if it is fulfilled, it will be clear that God did it? If not, it’s not
big enough. We needed the time, experiences & perspective to develop a
God-sized vision.
Finally,
we needed time to build relationships with people who would have a part in the
fulfillment of the vision. They were people who believed in us, encouraged us,
prayed for us, & spoke into our lives by the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Has
God spoken to you about something He wants to do in your life? Don’t give up. Be
ready to learn & be challenged. It won’t happen overnight, but it will
happen if you stay true to Him & His plan for you.
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