I am about to take a road trip with my mom. It should be a really fun time. The older we get, the harder it is to make those dates together. They are so valuable, but seem to wiggle off the pages of our calendars. These dates create the moments that bring smiles to us when we clean the house, or buy groceries. I know that this trip will fill the storehouse of smiles for a long time to come.
Before we get together for holidays or vacations, our phone time increase exponentially. This is a phenomenon that I cannot explain. I went over my minutes in December because I was arranging plans with people that I would see in the next few days. One might just wait and do everything face-to-face, but we are a people who talk about everything in stages. So, more phone time.
In this tradition, I was talking to my mom on the phone this morning. We were talking about the times in your life when your job is to do little.
Most of the time, I pray for God to do much with me, to work much through me, in me, around me, and use me mightily. When I pray, I think big. God is big. I think that I want to be prepared in case I need to learn how to fly, or I am called to be one of a handful running around my city as it falls. I am all about being prepared.
That was not what we were talking about. We talked about God is calling us to the small jobs. We (my mom and I) are prone to take over a situation when we see better solutions to really easy problems. So, should I just walk in the door with my computer and planner while the theme from Mighty Mouse blares in the background? No, probably not…she says reluctantly.
When we have our big vision, when we know what is best, how do we just sit on the sidelines and leave it to the ones who are clearly under qualified? (My mentor and I have already determined that I am a controller of people…thank you CTO!) WE JUST DO! If God wanted me to work out the plan, he would give me the power of attorney for all the people I need to fix. To date, this has not happened.
My mom and I were talking about how to pray for this. I need to pray for God to show me what my job is, and be open to cameos. I need to ask Him to prepare me for my job. If I do this, I will be able to encourage from the sidelines, to keep my communication from becoming a stumbling block to others, and to support the plan that God has ordained.
Without prayer, I know exactly what would happen. I would appoint myself in leadership of this project. I would assume authority that was not divinely given to me and I would move away from God’s covering and into enemy territory. That is where I find the fear and frustration. That is where the strife will not leave me alone and my Spirit will not rest. This is a tough place to pitch my tent.
Today, my mom and I are praying for our sideline positions. We are praying that we can know, and be prepared for our jobs. In fact, we are planning to be the best stinkin’ sideliners that this world has ever seen. Right mom?
Do you ever “know best”? How do you deal with that?
Oh this is lovely and challenging at the same time. What a great insight - and you are so right, sometimes doing the little before us is much harder than do all the grand schemes we imagine! (PS: That photo is to die for funny and cute at the same tim!)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm one of those "controlller of people" too, and to this day God has never allowed me power of attorney over anyone. Not one. It's hard when I think I know better (it's worse when I make the mistake of thinking I know better than God, but my thoughts and actions reveal that intention time and again). I still don't have it all figured out. And maybe that's a part of it. I don't need to have it all figured out (just another part of my controlling nature).
ReplyDeleteI so get where you are coming from. I struggled with this a lot last year. It's so hard sometimes to be content with doing little - we're overachievers at heart! We need to remember though, that those times of doing little are sometimes God's way of giving us well needed rest.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great perspective. Why am I not taking those moments of rest??? It is the overachiever in me, you are right!
ReplyDeleteYa, I'm one of those take charge Get~er~done type chicks and the sideline thing is sooo hard for me to do, being the type-A chick I am. Our thought are not His thoughts and our plans are not His plans. Just rest in his presence and He will show you exactly what you are to do.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip and may God pour His blessings upon you!!!!
I make the mistake of thinking I know better than God, but my thoughts and actions reveal that intention time.
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