Every season in our lives has a place and purpose in the will of God for our lives. It sounds cliche, but it's true and we often forget it. When I was younger (smile), I felt the world of ministry was passing me by and the kingdom of God was advancing without me. I desperately wanted to be a part, A BIG PART! I still do, but I've realized the world of ministry is moving a lot slower than I thought and the kingdom is still steadily advancing. There IS a place and part for each one of us in the service of God among His people and within this world. But right now that place may not be as big (or as busy or as broad) as you'd like it to be or maybe even foresee it to be.
IN SEASON
Zechariah 10:1 says, "Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain...". In other words, there is a season for asking certain things. This, then, also means there are things we ask out of season. They're not bad things, just things not yet in season. You and I can't harvest before we’ve planted.
SPIRIT-BREATHED DESIRES
God awakens desires within us and even creates desires within us that are more seed in form than harvest in form. From experience, this helps explain why it can be very difficult to refrain from following the propulsion and compulsion of the Sprit-breathed and Spirit-formed desires growing in our hearts. But that's just it: they're Spirit-breathed and Spirit-formed, but not yet Spirit-released and Spirit-empowered.
LASTING FRUIT
From a different perspective, consider that success cannot buy you character. Character cannot promise you success. Yet, success without character will not last. God is not interested in start-ups and great ideas with no lasting influence or fruit. God is interested in longterm faithful ministry and long-lasting healthy fruit. The only way to accomplish this is to bring us first through seasons of studying, of being broken, of being mentored, and of serving quietly, before bringing us into seasons of teaching, of healing, of mentoring, and of leading.
FEAR AND HOPE
My great fear is that I would become a self-made man at the expense of being a Spirit-made man. My great hope is that His hands are infinitely better at shaping my life and ministry. God has established seasons for each of us that are not out of order nor in any way pointless. He is fashioning our lives and preparing us for ministry, not necessarily preparing a ministry for us. Ministry abounds, ministers (servants) do not, and Jesus is looking for and calling servants.
So, as we continue to serve Him and, as a result, continue to serve our husband or wife, continue to teach our children, and continue to be content with the opportunities for ministry given to us in our churches and in other places, we will discover that our place and part in God’s kingdom is not without meaning or purpose. Rather, we exist for the glory of Jesus, our great Savior and King. Take comfort and hope! All that God has done, is doing, and will do in you during this season of your life will not be wasted because you can’t speak of it or because you can’t act on it right now.
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