The Harvest is Waiting (When We Say Yes)

I just had the privilege of speaking to a group of incredible women today about my story. It was such a blessing to be there. To share the message God has given to me and to hear theirs in return.

This is the church––we're the church––and we're called to love one another. To gather together so that we might encourage and spur one another on toward Christ.

I've already told you about the resistance I've felt on occasion toward the call God has placed on my life. It's no secret. But what's incredible to me is what God does when we say yes.

There's a story in scripture about two sons. To the first, the father said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today." To which the son replied, "'I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went" (Matthew 21:29). The father said the same to his other son, "and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go" (21:30). After telling this story, Jesus asked, "Which of the two did the will of his father?” And the answer, of course, is the first (21:31).

Every one of us are called. Our callings will look different, but every call is important. I can't do my calling apart from you doing yours. We are, as scripture puts it, the body of Christ which means we're mutually reliant upon each other.

The story of the two sons was given to me three years ago, right after I submitted to God's call to write my book. It was as if God was telling me, "You may have been running from what I'm calling you to do, but now that you have submitted to my call, you are doing my will."

Jesus tells us, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore," He says, "pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Luke 10:2). We are all called to work in the vineyard. To reap God's harvest that we might further the Kingdom of God. And though we may feel resistance to answering that call, what's ultimately important is that we say yes to whatever God calls us to. And when we do that, we are sure to experience the blessings of God. 

Just in the last year, I have received blessing after blessing as a result of my "yes."

• I signed my book contract last February. 
• I was contacted by The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to do the "Heaven" film.
• I finished my manuscript (by the grace of God!).
• I received over seven invitations to speak since last August.
• And most recently, I was asked to be a contributor to a new Zondervan devotional Bible called, NIV Bible for Women: Fresh Insights for Thriving in Today's World (releases September 22, 2015)! 

God is good. So incredibly good! When we say yes to the call He has on our lives, He makes things happen. It is He and He alone who brought every one of these opportunities to me. I did not seek them out. All I did was say yes (though reluctantly, at first). I haven't done everything right. I've made many mistakes, and I still have a long way to go, but how awesome is it that God is willing to invite us to be part of His story. That He's willing to use imperfect vessels to bring about good. And it all starts with a "yes!" I pray every one of us becomes a person committed to saying yes to whatever God calls us to. 

The harvest is waiting.