Proverbs 19.2b "...whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way."
The move from New York (after 21 years) to Missouri 14 months ago was epic, of course. Moreso for my wife and kids than for me, but still a huge undertaking.
For more than a year I struggled with the "fit" here. Doors were slow in opening; minor philosophical differences with surroundings were chewing on me. But the Lord gave me the grace to wait. I'd constantly repeat, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..."
Had I "made haste" I may have changed ministries, gone to a different location...and I often was sorely tempted. But I waited, by His grace.
And in the last few weeks door after door has blasted open. I will soon be an "official" volunteer chaplain at a prison here in St Joseph, an opportunity that, in some way or other, I'd be praying for since walking out of prison myself in 1977. From April 29 - May 2 I and a team of 29 men will go into Crossroads Maximum Security Prison in Cameron, Mo to minister to 30 men, most of whom will never see the streets.
Other doors are open, and after all the waiting the difficulty now will be to discern which doors should be entered, and which should be passed over.
I am so grateful God nudged me to "wait," and thankful the Spirit allowed me to obey.
Got any "waiting" stories? Or need prayer as you are currently "waiting"? Comment:
I think back to a previous church I served at as a youth pastor. During the stay there was issue after issue, problem after problem. Eventually the church "split" and the pain in the church was huge.
ReplyDeleteA number in the church left, including the pastor and a number of the teachers/leaders at the time. What was left were many hurting people with more questions than answers.
In the period leading up to the split, I was told by close friends to leave and find a different church, but the Lord would never give me peace about that. I could never go away and find a new church...I knew I had to stay and wait...and pray.
My wife and I shed buckets of tears ov er that time. tears of hurt, of confusion, and deep pain. We desperately prayed for the Lord to send us a pastor that would love the people, serve them, and allow the Lord to use him to bring healing and hope.
It took nearly two-and-a-half years for the prayers to be answered, but eventually, a wonderful loving man of God with a fantastic wife and new family were sent our way. The answer was clear, the promise we had been waiting for had come...and then the strangest thing happened...God let us go from that place of service.
Though in man's wisdom it would seem the absolute wrong-headed thing to do, in God's timing it was perfect. As we left, He allowed us to see that He had used us at that church for that period of time. To help them get through the storm and serve until God had prepared the man hHe had called to that church to be ready.
Now we see the wonderous wisdoom in God's time, His purpose in our lives fr that time, and His purpose for the little chruch and the people we had come to love so much. Thank You Lord, for seeing us through, and for eventually allowing us to see the wonder and perefection of Your ways!