“God will never call us to do something without giving us everything that is necessary in order for us to finish the task. It may not be what we think we need, but it will be all that we do need. That is not to say that the job will be easy.” (Gary Thomas, A Lifelong Love)
Last time we talked, I shared the beginning of an adventure God has given me the privilege of joining. When God calls us to do something, I believe that most areas of that calling will line up with our gifts and talents and desires…however, there is also always a learning curve involved. Sometimes we gain experience before the calling happens and other times the chance to learn occurs after we have been called and we learn as we go. However, God will always equip us with what we need to finish the job He calls us to do.
I also believe that when God calls us to something, if we press into His word and pray hard, we will have His peace about which direction He wants us to go. For some it may look different, but for me, I have a peace that I know that I know that I know what He wants me to do. However, just because I receive a peace that can only come from God, that doesn’t mean the adventure will be smooth sailing. I’m not trying to discourage anyone, but when we are walking the path God puts us on, expect great things to happen but also expect resistance along the way.
When we are obedient to God’s plan, He will use us to do mighty things. We have an enemy who doesn’t like that. He doesn’t want us to be used for God and doesn’t want God getting the glory. He doesn’t want our lives to positively impact others, pointing them toward Heaven.
When I first agreed to my new adventure, obstacles came. One particular obstacle that stands out was sickness. Our family hadn’t had the stomach flu in years…it had been at least five years since we had dealt with that particular nuisance. Winter/spring of 2013…our family got it three times! One particular day, I had two children vomiting simultaneously, one every 10 to 15 minutes, one episode away from an ER visit.
However, God is bigger than the enemy. My new boss is family oriented and worked with me through the sickness. He is full of grace and patience as I learn new responsibilities. Each month I fall more in love with the ministry which further reinforces I’m right where God wants me.
After that, each month I thanked God ahead of time for His provision for things to run smoothly and they did. Were they perfect? No. But I felt God’s help and that made a big difference.
Do I know the big picture of what God has planned? No…and for this particular adventure, I choose complete trust. I know that I know that I know God put me here. I also know that I know that I know that God has a reason for my being here. And, I know that I know that I know that I can trust Him with the final outcome of how far this adventure will go and where my place is in it. As a result, not only do I have peace during the process and joy during the journey, but hope for the future while being content in the present. And I’m not just content…but truly happy. This is a great place to be. I still have to obey, I still have a job to do (to my best ability) but I have faith that God will supply what I need to fulfill His purpose (as long as I stay close to Him) and that He has me where my talents and passions align. In January 2013, when God spoke, I knew I couldn’t NOT obey! And I’m so glad I listened!
© Cheri Swalwell 2014