Originally published Monday, 12 October 2015.
I’ve been hurt in ministry, and I’m sure that if you’ve served the Lord in any capacity for any length of time then you have, too. The call of God on our lives doesn’t always make sense to everyone else. And when flesh and blood get involved, people envision climbing ladders.
Corporate America and ministry in America often feels frightfully synonymous. (Tweet that)
I’ve been known to wave the white flag of surrender.
I’ve been tired, weary and of the mentality that I just want everyone to get along and like me. And God has spoken strongly to my heart saying, “This is about Me and not you, get it straight. Do what I’ve called you to do and go where I say.” It sounds harsh, I know. But it isn’t.
You see, If I’m ever going to walk inside the stillness of the presence of God, then I have to do what He says and not be intimidated by, limited to, or worried about everyone around me. It’s in His hands, and if I refuse to listen then I’m holding myself back from being saturated in the stillness of His presence.
The prophet Jeremiah’s ministry didn’t exactly make him well liked. He often delivered words no one wanted to hear and experienced harsh circumstances because of it. He wasn’t exactly fond of what was happening and so he also waved his flag in an attempt to give up, but he soon discovered it was an impossibility.
O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me. 8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.
-Jeremiah 20:7-9
Jeremiah said that he wasn’t going to speak in God’s name anymore. He wasn’t happy with how things were playing out; it was painful. However, when something is shut up in our bones, when God lights a fire, His children cannot stop. They must be used like instruments for His glory doing whatever is necessary to fulfill his call.
There are two ways we can feel the burn of His call.
- If we are obedient, we will feel it inside the passion to minister in His name. It’s not always easy, but it’s a good burn.
- If we aren’t quickly obedient, we can become confused and stuck in our circumstances. After that, the burn becomes hot, not in a good way, it stings until we finally give up and move in the area and call He intends. (The Holy Spirit won’t ever give up on us!)
Friend, I’m going to be honest and tell you I’ve been feeling a burn for a very long time. Not a good one.
We all have a call on our lives. Each of us was created with purpose. And on top of that, we all have gifts which intersect with passion, helping to ignite the fire of fulfillment to the ministry He’s given us.
Too many of us, including myself, have bowed out, blamed the church, and stopped pursuing our callings because we were too busy trying to fit our callings into someone else’s expectation of us.
It’s time to run free. If God is moving you onward, don’t be afraid, go with it. Be brave!
Bold
Ready and
Available
Vying for
Everything God wants to do in your heart and life.
Sometimes walking in stillness means making decisions that at first don’t feel still. There doesn’t seem to be peace, but if we take the step He’s beckoning us to take, then peace comes next. And, friend, it flows like a river!
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
-Psalm 27:13
Love,
Jennifer
If you’ve missed any posts in my October Series, The Struggle to Live a Still Life, just click here and scroll down to see previous entries.
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