Just because I can—In His Word 10-25-2021
As I have grown older, I have found that the above statement
is true more than ever. Throughout my time as a Christian, I found that I would
live my life in one ministry or another. From littles to older children, to
women’s ministry to prayer I have been involved in each and more. The thing I
loved is that a person can actually have a calling that brings you to many avenues
of serving one another as Christ served us.
There was a time when
I thought God called me only to work with kids. I knew how, I had been trained
both at Bible College and twice through the 12 units so I had the kid stuff
down! Yet there was someone else who God wanted to put in that position and one
year He showed me a rut in the parking lot at church that kept coming back. I
had a dream in which I was in it, I kept falling back into it and I was stuck.
I realized then that the rut was the Children’s ministry I was working in at
the time and struggling to be a good mother at the same time.
Years later I found myself back working at a school. I had
the skills; I know I could have done it forever! He spoke to me in my heart and
mind telling me as I spoke it out to someone else; “Just because I am capable of
doing it, does not mean I should do it.”
I felt more than heard that it was
okay. It was okay to step away from one leadership role to be fulfilled in
another ministry. As I stepped aside in children’s I saw God bring an amazing
group of children’s leaderships to our church! My own kids were inspired and
taught by these people and if I had been there, they would not have been. If I
had not allowed God to move me from that one into another ministry that needed
my assistance the same kids would not have been reached. They were way more
amazing than I could have been! God knew I could be amazing in women’s Bible
teaching instead! I loved it! I thrived making
friends my own age too. The thing is I
would not have known I could lead adults had I not first lead kids. As I walked
through the years I came to be moved once again to where I am now. God has
called me to write, to speak, and to teach to all people of all walks of life.
I follow that, now. I trust that wherever He leads me that is where I will be
used for His glory.
God uses many things to teach us lessons in His Word that
show us that its time to move on, or stop and listen. Sometimes He tells us to do
something we figure is useless to do because we know what the outcome will be,
and we will feel like it was wasted time. In the same way God knows our heart
and mind, He knows the people we will reach for His glory. Sometimes its not
about us, and sometimes it is!
Look at how God dealt
with Nineveh. We all know the story of Jonah and the Big Fish, but look a
little closer and you will see the reason he ended up there was because he knew
God would not wipe out Nineveh. He knew God would forgive them, and that they
would turn toward God again and mend their ways. So he thought he could get
away from the plan. Still, we know God’s plans are not always our plans. We can
try to run from Him but as with Jonah we learn that we cannot get away from the
One who created the heavens and the earth.
Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go
to the great city of Nineveh and deliver the message I have given you.”
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to
Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day
Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh
will be destroyed!” The people of
Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they
declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of
Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took
off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes.
Then the king and his
nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from
your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of
mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their
evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will
change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
When God saw what
they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed his
mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:1-10
Sometimes it is about us. God taught Jonah that it was important for him to be obedient to follow what God says. Jonah was upset about it because he figured he knew more than God. I hate to admit it but when we try to keep doing a ministry, or working at a job, that we believe we are supposed to leave to do something else we are being a Jonah.
God will do what He’s going to do though, cause He is God
right?
Well, that’s what Jonah thought. But the thing is, we do not
know what will change God’s mind or not. We cannot second guess Him. I would
not have thought that He would be a God of utter destruction, but He was. Sodom and Gamora are examples of what happens
when people do not listen to God’s warnings. We need to be sure that we are
walking in His path for us, and not try to push through to get things done in
our own time frame. If God is for us no one can stand against us. (Romans 8:31) If we are doing the right thing,
there will be no wall to walk into or cliff to fall off of!
Another thing that is important for us to remember is that
God will give us the abilities to do what He needs us to do, but just as He showed
me, just because I can do something does not mean I am to do it when I think
its right, or when it best suits me. God’s plans are not always the same as
mine.
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be
wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless
the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. Proverbs 19:20-21
When we seek first His desire for our lives, and then continue
to do that, then we will find peace and joy in what we do. If we stop seeking Him,
we will stop finding peace.
Just because I can… doesn’t mean I have to.
Just because I can… doesn’t mean I should.
Just because I’m able… it may not be my job.
Just because I want to, doesn’t mean its good.
Our God wants to move us around sometimes. Whether it is to
another state, or another location in the church; His plans are good and right
and we need to follow them .
Just a few thoughts to ponder, in Jesus’ name