But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being. 1 Corinthians 2:9
Years ago, while praying about everything I would be doing to serve God later on, I asked Him to use me no matter what. I wanted Him to show me even if it meant ending up in a field of service I could never see myself doing, or maybe would seem way out of my comfort zone. I was content in my praying about these things for the most part, at least.
I asked Him to confirm a calling so there would be no mistake. It was especially important to know I wasn’t going along on my own way, forcing some direction that was never His plan. There’s nothing wrong with having dreams and pursuing them. I just wanted to see what God had in mind for me because I didn’t want to miss out on the best. I know He does good things – He has proven it too many times– so I wanted to get His thoughts on my life’s direction while talking with Him about my own dreams at the same time.
So I turned them in. I exchanged my dreams for His. I’m still finding out what it means to have done that, but learned for certain I’m glad to have prayed those words of surrender.
God has definitely been gracious to provide the direction I asked for through the years, and He still provides it today. As I prayed, I traded in my dreams and asked Him to give me what He has in mind for me instead. I look back and see how He has confirmed where I am now as His direction. By no stretch of the imagination has following God’s lead been easy. But it has absolutely been worth every step of the way. I have those times of confirmation as proof that He will continue leading me as promised. Those confirmations in my heart, and through the words of others, and circumstances, have consistently exhausted my doubts and kept me from giving up.
Every time God seems to be leading me to something new, I recall the same words that come to mind while praying about whatever it is He’s placing on my heart that I need to respond to. I’ve asked Him to make me sensitive to His voice, and help me obey even if I don’t understand what He’s doing.
To my response of “Yes, Lord,” I add, “And Lord, don’t scare me!” Unfortunately I pray that frequently. Certainly God doesn’t intend to scare me, but I find myself for sure, whatever He calls me to next, “doing it all afraid” as missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot has said. Elisabeth talked about moving toward serving God with questions still in our minds about the next steps we are to take. She said,
“Sometimes when we are called to obey, the fear does not subside and we are expected to move against the fear. One must choose to do it afraid.”
“Do it afraid.” That’s good advice because serving God isn’t easy at times. It may take years before we see any or many results from fulfilling God’s call. Then sometimes we get to see a change in someone’s life and we are encouraged by that. We get to see some fruit from our service – healing, or a new start. It’s rewarding to see the lives of others restored, encouraged, changed in a way they could never do for themselves, but did because they had someone show them God loves them for real.
Still, many times each day I wonder what He was thinking calling me to some of the things I do. I wonder why He doesn’t call someone else better…[insert my endless excuses and comparisons here…]
But I also see how He turns what I look at as impossible, into the possible – into times of help for others that really need it. I’ll have some small way to make a difference, placed before me, which is so humbling because God allowed me to do it. Left to decide on using my life to make the difference, I would never have picked me to do it. But God did. He never cares that I can’t do it. He knows that already. He knows all that matters is He can do it and that I say yes when He calls.
Which reminds me – I’m so thankful He picks the unlikely.
I think of David. Among his brothers who clearly appeared ready to serve in big ways, with great responsibility, God informed the family through Samuel that He didn’t choose any of David’s brothers, but that He chose David. In 1 Samuel 16: 6-12 we read:
When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
Half the air in the room must have been sucked up in a gasp of shock after hearing those words. But indeed God had prepared David for that day – a day God was fully aware of and had planned down to the last detail.
David was enrolled in a college of time with God, alone with the Lord having to totally depend on Him for everything. In order to serve later on as king of Israel, David had to learn some things directly from God and through no one else. Lonely? Yes. Tough? Yes. Worth it? Yes.
Sometimes God will take us aside and teach us some things only He can. He draws us away from distractions of the world and its devices so we can have our hearts changed, so we can learn His voice, listen, and follow His directions. If David had not learned how to hear God’s voice, he never would have been a good king.
He wasn’t perfect, but he was teachable.
God brought David through brokenness for many years before He allowed David to be placed as king of Israel. God does the same in our lives before placing us in certain positions of service. Those positions may be quiet or in the background, or they may be more in front of people and seen. But each is important to God and part of His plan to reach others for Christ in some way.
God may call us, like He did David as a child in his house as a shepherd boy in front of his family, and then spend the next 10, 15 or 20 years preparing us, something like He did with David for many years, and then set us in the service He wants us in.
David felt like giving up at times, and would be frustrated about what was happening in his life, but the one thing that showed he had learned to listen to and rely on God was that he never completely turned away from God when things were at their worst. David must have wondered at times how he could possibly end up as king and be dead at the same time because Saul was chasing after him. But David kept turning to God for guidance, protection and provision.
If we do the same, and never completely turn away in fear or bitterness, we will be used in ways we and others least expect of us. God knows we get frustrated and frightened at times at what is happening around us, but He will use us and trust us with more as we grow in trust toward Him. He doesn’t force us to obey Him. But if we respond to His call, He will continue preparing us all the days of our lives, and using us.
Ask God about what He may have planned for you next. Ask Him even if you don’t have any idea where He may want to lead you soon, or somewhere years down the line. Give Him your dreams because He cares about your dreams. He will make a way to show you every step, and He will take responsibility to get you where He leads.
