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Trusting God in the
Shadows
,
The Lord has us wait in His shadow to remind
us we're not the star attraction - that cultivates genuine humility. While God
hides us away, He reveals new dimensions of Himself and new insights regarding
ministry - that makes us deep. What we need today is not smarter people or
busier people - a far greater need is deeper people. Deep people will always
have a ministry - always. God deepens us through time spent waiting on Him. When
God finally chooses to use us, it comes at a time least expected, when we feel
the least qualified - that makes us effective. The perfect set-up for a
long-lasting, effective ministry begins with surprise. That's the idea - it's
refreshing, in this highly efficient age, to find a few who are still amazed at
the way God is using them
Chuck Swindoll
Insight for Today
Scriptures: Acts 11:25; 2 Corinthians 12:2-6
812
I want to dispense a fresh supply of hope. To
help accomplish that, let me suggest four principles.
They may mean more to you later than now — in
a time when God leads you to wait in the shadows.
First, when God prepares
us for effective ministry, He includes what we would rather omit — a period of
waiting.
That cultivates patience.
As I write these words, it occurs to me that
I've never met anyone young and patient. (To be honest, I've not met many old
and patient folks either.)
We're all in a hurry. We don't like to miss
one panel of a revolving door.
Patience comes hard in a hurry-up society.
Yet, it's an essential quality, cultivated only in extended periods of waiting.
Second, as God makes us
wait, hiding us in His shadow, He shows us we're not indispensable.
That makes us humble.
One major reason the Lord removes us and has
us wait in His shadow is to remind us we're not the star attraction.
We're not indispensable. That realization
cultivates genuine humility.
I'm convinced Paul never once questioned God
for having His hand on Peter and Barnabas, rather than on him.
In a time when most gifted individuals would have
been volunteering at the revival headquarters, Paul willingly remained behind
the scenes.
All the while waiting for his time — correction,
God's time.
Third, while God hides us
away, He reveals new dimensions of Himself and new insights regarding ministry.
That makes us deep. What we need today is not
smarter people or busier people.
A far greater need is deeper people.
Deep people will always have a ministry.
Always.
God deepens us through time spent waiting on
Him.
Fourth, when God finally
chooses to use us, it comes at a time least expected, when we feel the least
qualified.
That makes us effective. The perfect set-up
for a long-lasting, effective ministry begins with surprise.
"Me? You sure You don't want that other
person? She's got great qualifications and obvious gifts. You may want to talk
to her."
That's the idea.
It's refreshing, in this highly efficient
age, to find a few who are still amazed at the way God is using them.
Taken
from Great Days with the Great Lives by Charles R. Swindoll.
Charles
R. Swindoll
has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of
God’s Word and His grace. A pastor at heart, Chuck has served as senior pastor
to congregations in Texas, Massachusetts, and California. Since 1998, he has
served as the founder and senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church
in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local
church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight
for Living airs in major Christian radio markets around the world,
reaching people groups in languages they can understand. Chuck’s extensive
writing ministry has also served the body of Christ worldwide and his
leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has
helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry. Chuck and Cynthia, his
partner in life and ministry, have four grown children, ten grandchildren, and
seven great-grandchildren.
