This month in Swaziland I have not had a set ministry. First, I was writing profiles of women that made crafts to support their family. Then I took inventory of shirts for the Sports Ministry. Then I helped develop and format curriculum to be used by all the teachers of the care points. And then I helped a 5 year old class in a care point. I wasn’t developing close and deep relationships and was becoming drained and frustrated. I didn’t feel helpful and didn’t understand what God was doing with me.
So I asked Him, and He answered.
He reminded me of a word spoken over me whenever I was had a really difficult season in my life. Someone said that I was like the staff of Moses. That the staff was used for many purposes and was an instrument God and Moses used to show God’s glory in several very unique ways. But if the staff had been content with being the snake, then it would never be able to fulfill all of the other things God was going to need it to do. The water wouldn’t turn to blood. The Red Sea wouldn’t have been parted.
The purpose God has for my life isn’t one-dimensional. He is going to use me in a variety of ways, and I need to remember that or I will get comfortable doing one thing and miss out on the bigger plan at play.
Then He began reminding me of different points in my life. Like when I was 14 and worked at a T-Shirt shop and folded t-shirts for hours and hours. Or when I was in a teaching class that was focused on creating lesson plans. And then when I spent 4 months as a 2-year old teacher.
All of those moments in my life were training and preparation for the moment when God could use it for his glory. They served their purpose during that time, but now they get to serve a purpose in God’s glory. And He chose me for each of those jobs because he knew I was ready to jump in and be a real help to the ministry.
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. – Luke 16: 10
God tells us to do all things with excellence not just so we can look good. It’s all training and preparation. Because I was diligent in the past seasons of my life, God could use me in that capacity in this season of my life. Because I trust in him with everything and know that God is directing my life, He can lead me into very unique and powerful situations.
God doesn’t want to keep you at level one, where you just do the same thing over and over. He wants to grow and equip you. He wants to bring you into a greater place of power and of responsibility. He wants to shine through you brighter and brighter, until entire nations are moved to turn to God. But if we slack off because we think folding t-shirts is insignificant, then he can never give us more.
When this realization hit me, that I was given these ministries because God loved me and trusted me with each of them, I was humbled. So many times, until I am out of a situation, I don’t realized the purpose of it. So whether I am cleaning floors or teaching a class, I want to remain in the spirit of humbleness and excellence because I know God has big plans for me, and each big plan begins with a small step.
