For the past 4 months I have had the awesome privilege of serving amongst some of the most amazing leaders I have known. These 9 people have prayed with me, encouraged me, learned with me, and sought the Lord with me. All of them came into the Race expecting to be changed and challenged and all are walking gracefully through the process.
I am able to lead a squad of 50 racers with this crew through all the ups and downs. Leading is not always fun or easy, but the rewards of good stewardship are plentiful. We are reminded often that one day we will have to give an account for the people we have led and I can say that challenges us and humbles us daily.
A few months ago Michael Hindes, the WR Director, challenged us at debrief with a story of Samuel and his mother Hannah. We referred to the story as the BIG COAT story and have since named the leadership team the BIG COAT CLUB or BCC. In 1 Samuel 2:18-26 the story unfolds.
Hannah offered her son Samuel as an offering to the Lord after He had blessed her with motherhood. Samuel was living at the Lord’s temple in Shiloh with the priest Eli. Each year Hannah would travel to the temple to make her annual offerings to the Lord and like any mother she would look forward to seeing her son. Each year she would knit him a new tunic (coat) and take it to him. The text reads:
“But Samuel was ministering before the Lord-a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice…And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.” 1 Samuel 2:18,26
It stands to reason that like any good mom she would take him a coat each year that was a little big and he would grow into it through out the year. Its arms were probably a little long and the width might swallow him at the beginning of the year. I can almost see the shoulder seams coming down past his elbows and him complaining to his mom that it was too big. She would just smile and tell him to be quiet and he would grow into it.
Samuel did grow into his new coat each year and grew to be a mighty man of God. He served Israel at a turning point in her history and eventually anointed Saul king of Israel. The small boy offered to God in faith became an anointed man of God.
Many of us serving on the Race today are wearing coats that are much too big for us. The sleeves are definitely too long, the coat wraps around us maybe twice and the length is down past our knees.
Many days we have stood before our Father and complained our coats were too big. We looked ridiculous and we don’t see how we will ever grow into them. I think our Daddy’s response is probably the same as Hannah’s. He smiles and tells us to be patient and before long it will fit just perfect.
I know that I personally feel this way more often then I would like to admit. I am daily making decisions that will impact generations, I am speaking words to teammates that I am in no way qualified to speak, I am shaping and guiding a generation that I am a part of. My coat is too big.
I am believing for myself the words of 1 Samuel 2:26 “And the girl Allison continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with men.”
I ask for your prayers for this team of amazing leaders. As we all stand swallowed up by our coats we know it is your prayers that help guide us and uphold us. We can stand in faith because you are standing with us.
Examine your own coat as well. Is it time for you to say yes to God and agree to wear something that maybe seem too big now, but He is asking you to grow into it?
I said yes to a coat that was WAY too big, but look where it has taken me! He is so faithful and I know he will be faithful to you too!
