For Such a Time as This … Are You Being Called To Act or Grow?
Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves. More accurately, we get ahead of God’s plan for our lives.
Sometimes God gives us a vision for the future, and in our impatience we claim it for now.
Sometimes God gives us a vision for the future, and in our impatience we claim it for now. Share on X
The Lord may place passion for a ministry in our hearts long before He gives us the means or the okay to pursue it. He often calls us before equipping us.
Like His ordination of David as King while just a boy (Samuel 16), God wants us to grow into that calling. To hone our skills and understanding.
But we often get impatient in the interim and want to act, not grow.
A Season to Embrace and Grow
I’m in a season right now where my family still needs a big chunk of my time. In fact, activity-wise we operate in the busiest period. However, I’ve felt a draw for a few years now to reach outside my home and minister encouragement. So in August 2011, I began this blog.
Yet my desire to reach farther outside the home is growing and becoming harder to contain. I see others’ circle of influence expanding in leaps and bounds while mine grows in tiny increments. And I pull against the bit holding me back.
But then God reels me in. I plan one more “last” event in my son’s senior year, and my priorities smack home. I have my children for such a very short time.
For now the majority of my time and energy needs to be spent on my family as God fertilizes and waters those attributes I’ll need for any future ministry.
So, for such a time as this…
- I need to be present in my current calling. This means with my kiddos. In 5 short years I’ll be empty nesting—next year half our children will be gone to college.
- I need to savor where God has me now before that time blows away in the winds of change.
- I need to demonstrate God’s love to whoever I reach: being fully present, fully loving, fully guiding.
- I need to let God grow me into His vision for my future.
It’s difficult. Patience isn’t easy. Often more acknowledgment and encouragement is found outside the home than in. A future ministry may garner more accolades.
But God has been reminding me that for now I’m raising disciples, His children, and that is a job no parent should take lightly.
So for now, I’m working on being content with writing and speaking on a smaller scale. To grow more than act.
I’m learning to treasure my current call, instead of yearning for the one to come.
Is It Time for You to Act or Grow?
Are you longing to do something but don’t have the time to pursue it? What does your heart burn to do, but you feel shackled by obligations and closed doors?
Don’t become disheartened. It may be that God is calling you to patience. Perhaps He has you in a place of preparation and growth.
Embrace the now and eagerly anticipate the tomorrow. They are both gifts to treasure.
Embrace the now and eagerly anticipate the tomorrow. They are both gifts to treasure. Share on X
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Reflection: Has God ever given you a vision only to call you to wait on it? How did you know it was a time to grow not act?
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By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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This was absolutely wonderful Julie!! And matches up with what God has been showing me!! My family must be first and right now that is almost all, but like you say these years will pass quickly and in the end it is the most important work we can do!! Thank you for sharing your heart with such honesty and encouraging mine so powerfully!! Blessings to you!!!
Oh, Jill, it’s so nice to read your words! I know you’ve been struggling with this as well and have beautifully encouraged others to patiently wait on the Lord’s timing. But it is difficult when we desire so strongly to reach out. I guess we need to remember, by guiding our children to be passionate followers of Christ, we are reaching a wider audience for Him than we ever could on our own (and reaping the benefits of fulfilling our critical call of mother).
Great post as always Julie. God often gives us a vision and we assume it will just magically appear. Yet God is more about growing us through a journey. I have learned the hard way that I have to grow one step at a time. Sounds like you have a clear understanding of your calling for “now.”
I believe I do have an understanding of what that calling is for now, Jon, but sometimes I chaff at it. Reminding myself daily that God will open just the right doors and windows at just the right timing. It’s not necessarily on the timeline I’d like, but then what do I really know in comparison to God’s timeless wisdom?
I agree it is hard. I have such a passion for being a Pastor I really want to be able to do it full time, But for now I have to be content (or I am learning to be content) to work another job. Seems like God only gives us those little steps at a time so we are forced to live by faith. – Stay strong, I am sure you are on the right track.
Thanks for sharing, Jon. There’s such encouragement in hearing other people’s stories. And I believe your right about His plan causing us to live by faith. I know mine has certainly been strengthened by this journey.
Hi Julie, oh I now so well the place you are describing! We have this passion for God and for His Word and we cannot help but be bubbling over to share His joy and truth to others we know will be blessed by it…and yet we have another calling…one that actually came first and should stay first until its time has been fulfilled…that of family :-). You are ever so right in your post. God is wise above our own ‘wisdom’. And we will be wise to wait on Him and serve wherever He has planted us for this season. Every one act of kindness that was born in love and which we give to someone, is as important and effective and grand as any act we might do in a big ministry 🙂 Lots of love, Lize
Rightly said, Lize. Thank you for your encouragement.
I was blessed by this! Thank you! Have a blessed Advent season! patsy
So grateful these words ministered to you, Patsy. Blessings to you, dear sister.