Stop. Wait. Listen

Have you ever wondered if you'd be willing to go if God sent you to some remote place to share His salvation? But what if He asked you just to stay where you are? Sometimes it is easier to hear "go" than to obey "stay."

Yes, obeying a call to the unknown is scary. But, at the same time, it can appear glamourous or, at least, full of adventure. Staying...doing the mundane...not so much!

In the book of Jeremiah chapters 41 through 43, the remnant of the Israelites left in Judah feared for their lives. An assassin had attacked the governor that the King of Babylon had set over them. Johanan and some other brave souls rescued the people the assassin had kidnapped and then they prepared their flight to Egypt to avoid the punishment sure to come from Babylon. On their way, they stop by Jeremiah and ask him to inquire of Yahweh what they should do. They promised that whatever He said they would obey.

With their donkeys loaded and their sandals warmed up and raring to run, Yahweh simply told them to stay. If they trusted Him, He would assure them safety.  If they ran, the disaster they feared would pursue them. So what do they do? Run, of course.

Having promised unconditional obedience, they naively suspected that God would affirm their plans. They never dreamed He would instruct them to wait for the hammer they were sure would crush them.

Can you relate? Are you stuck in a prison, an office, a sick body, a home—cooking and cleaning for your family? Do you long for God to give you a great assignment? Have you ever thought, maybe He has?

We have a major disadvantage to previous generations. In the past, making a good living and being a respectable family man or woman was a full and honourable life. Today we expect more. We may not be conscious of it, but we do.

If you preach, you expect to draw multitudes. If you write, you imagine your book on a best sellers list or chatted up on a big talk show. If you're in business, you expect to be sought after and to accumulate money for a comfortable life.

But God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not like ours. God may have you disciple a small group to spiritual maturity and die virtually unknown. He may have you write and never know the impact of His work through you. You may set an example in business and never be recognized for it.

But one of those discipled may go on to share the gospel with thousands, beginning a revival that spreads far and wide for God's glory. Your book may be on the night stand of a dying woman, who reads it and is born again. Your money saved in business may be sent to someone in need, who will be saved from devastation and go on to lead his people.

Or maybe God has other plans for you. Maybe this time is to train you for a calling, which to obey will cost you greatly, but will accomplish more than you can imagine. If you are faithful in the small, mundane areas of life, God will entrust to you far greater responsibility.

We often look for the great and glorious things for ourselves, but God may be glorified more in the small beginnings.

Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. ~Jeremiah 45:5

Only God knows the times in which we live and into what part of the puzzle your life and my life will fit.

Nothing is wasted. The Artist has you here for a purpose. Stop. Wait. Listen.