d me to this book "Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours" by Alicia Britt Chole. The chapters are short enough that it works well with my quiet time each morning as I like to read a devotional of sorts and then follow it by scripture. Yesterday, chapter 8 in this book "A Delayed Destiny", penetrated my heart to the point that it will not leave my thoughts. This book can be "deep" and it challenges you to think. I feel lead to share from it and pray it will also impact someone out in boggy land.Many of you are on a God-mission and yet the future is not yet clear. That is where I am also. You have heard God say "go" and yet when you look for the right direction, it still is not as clear as you like. Sometimes there's silence when you call out and listen for His voice. Sometimes you feel as if you are in a dry spell, hidden from fulfilling what He has placed in your heart. Alicia Britt Chole written words (quoted in green) have challenged me to ponder this more.
Imagine Jesus, with God's divine power and calling breathing and bursting within him, waking up each morning, turning to Father God in prayer and asking, "are we there yet?"
My friend, replace Jesus name with your own and re-read that statement. Is His divine power breathing and bursting within you? Did you ever think you would want to speak those words "are we there yet" after hearing them as a parent so many times? Yet, what does that say about our heart when we pray those words---I say yes--- I am willing to be made willing---transform me Lord.
Alicia's book looks at the anonymous years of Christ between His childhood and when He came back to scripture as a young man of 30. She stated:
A God-size mission pulsated in His heart, but He was not free to explain it, proclaim it, to actively pursue it.
There is a God-size mission in all of us. As we sometimes feel frustrated that it may not be moving as quickly towards your hearts goal as you think, God's timing is vital. Jesus was there during those anonymous years, being groomed and equipped for His purpose, God's meaasage of love and grace, and the same is true for us. So then should not our prayer be "Lord, you have placed a God-size mission in my heart and living this calling out is pulsating through the core of my being. Equip me to understand your will, to proclaim your work in my life, and to freely pursue this calling."?
Do you feel your calling, your dream is being delayed? This time of silence, of being "hidden" can be discouraging when in reality it should not. I have to ask what influences you in achieving your calling? I tend to allow the thoughts of others to influence me from stepping forward. What may keep you hidden from the work of God? Do you feel unqualified, not good enough, not wise enough?
"What does it build in us? What grows in the underestimated gap between God's calling and others' perceptions, between our true capabilities and our current realities?"
I challenge you to explore this with your God for it is between you and Him.
If you are living in a period on what Alicia refers to as "anonymous years", a time of being hidden from what you feel God has called you to do, be encouraged by her next statement...
"But in the anonymous seasons we must hold tightly to the truth that no doubt strengthened Jesus throughout His hidden years: Father God is neither care-less nor cause-less with how He spends our lives. When He calls a soul simultaneously to greatness and obscurity, the fruit-if we wait for it-can change the world."
Living in truth...real truth of who we are in Christ, not who we are in ourselves. That is our calling before we even venture to fulfill anything else, such as this God-size mission we have pulsating in our heart. For my own spiritual journey, this is not a coincidence that the next blog Bible study hosted by Lelia (http://leliachealey.blogspot.com/) with Lisa Whittle's new book "Behind Those Eyes" is to start in a few weeks. It's a God thing...again!!
A delayed destiny or a time of equipping? It's both and it just part of walking in faith. I pray these words I have shared from my quiet time has stirred your own thoughts within your God-size calling and life mission.
In Him~Pamela (MrsJoeB)
7 comments:
I just purchased this book and the workbook to go along with it. I have only gotten as far as the first two chapters, but already it has been so good. I am looking so forward to reading and learning more about God and His ways from this book.
And after being gone for 23 days only to come home in severe pain and then have back surgery followed by a month of bed rest, I definitely felt isolated from every thing and everyone, so I was so comforted to find a name to put to my feelings...A hidden season....It made me realize that my alone and physically down time had purpose.
Thanks for sharing what spoke to you...I look forward to digging deeper too.
God Bless,
Amy:)
Wow Pam it seemed like you were talking directly to me. I am in an anonymous period on something. I keep asking "are we there yet" and He keeps saying no. It's hard to be patient but I know I must. I've said it before, you said this all with such eloquence. Thank you for speaking to my heart.
Looking forward to the new study. I'll pick up the book and workbook this weekend.
Hi Pamela,
It is the workbook that goes along with "Anonymous." I found it by clicking on the link that Elaine put in the post when she introduced the book. She told me that it really helped her to be able to dig even deeper into the study.
It is about $10.00 with shipping.
God Bless,
Amy:)
Oh how this is me. I am in a delayed destiny...one that has not been revealed to me or I cannot hear His voice or understand His direction. Yes, this is so me. My future is not clear and oh how I want it to be clear.
So many studies and books to use as devotionals. At times I feel overwhelmed and torn between what to do. I can't really handle more than one study at a time. I'll see what I can work out. I am doing the next study of Lisa's book with Lelia also. I'm behind on our current study by one chapter. Then I also have a face to face study.
Thanks for sharing. I posted yesterday if you have a chance come over for a washin'. :0)
Thank you so much! This post is a wonderful way for me to start my day. I have been in waiting mode for some time, but active at the same time. God is good! Though I do not understand what he is doing, I know he is doing something. I had a wonderful time with him yesterday as I took my daily walk. Posted some pictures on my blog if you are interested. Again thank you for this morning's devotional. I might have to buy that book:)
Pamela,
I can't believe this post. I too am reading "Anonymous". I have been stirred with each word that I read as she is writing my heart and my experience. I have been in hiddenness for several years now. Finally I have words that describe so many of my feelings and questions.
Yesterday I sat with chapter one (i've read 3-4) to journal about what Papa God was saying to me. Afterwards I wrote about it on my blog. If you want to read how the book is speaking to me, I'd love for you to visit my blog.
This is a profound book, in my opinion. I am so blessed to have found it.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I loved it!
I found you from Elaine's blog, though I think our paths have crossed before.
Bless you,
Julie
Pamela, You prayed your words touched someone and I want you to know God answered that prayer. As I struggle through a difficult loss and feel a bit lost at times the quote about God not being care-less or cause-less was something that spoke to my heart. Thank you for sharing.
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