It’s time!
“Mom! Is it time yet?!”
No matter what the situation, inevitably my sons used to ask me this question. My sons are young adults now, but while they were teenagers they asked more and more questions, pushing their boundaries as far as they could. Some days they would show an increase in responsibility, other days they make assumptions that cause mistakes—huge mistakes. But both scenarios were profitable for their learning and maturing process.
I remember when each one of my children walked for the first time, rode their bikes for the first time, and swam for the first time. In those firsts were some mistakes, and some scraps and falls. Every time they learned something new and compensated for the previous fall. And every time they tried again. Every. Single. Time. In children, there is this ability to always try. No matter how difficult or how many times they have fallen; they will get back up and try again.
So when is it time for the first time for a baby to speak, or walk? When is it time for a child to ride his bike without training wheels? In this natural sense, it always seems that the child’s physiology is ready before they understand they are ready mentally. As it is naturally, likewise, it is spiritually. Most people are ready to begin serving with their grace gifts before they realize they are.
Likewise, in spiritual things, if one never exercises the use of their spiritual grace gifts, then they will never understand the power that is available to them in Christ. Does this mean that one learning to use their grace gifts will never make mistakes? Absolutely not! They will assuredly make many, and learn from them all.
There is an example of this in the Scriptures with prophets Samuel and Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 1, God Himself calls Jeremiah into ministry. Jeremiah resists by saying, “Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth” (Jeremiah 1:6, New American Standard Bible). But God charged him further, “But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak “(Jeremiah 1:7 NASB). The prophet Samuel was so young serving Eli he was not even aware that the LORD was speaking to him until Eli made it known.
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (1 Samuel 3:7-9 NASB)
When Eli discerned it was the LORD that called Samuel he did not say, “When God tells me what He wants, I will tell you.” But instead, he instructs Samuel on how to answer the voice of the LORD and to listen. Further in the passage, Eli encourages the young prophet that he indeed heard the voice of the LORD after Samuel shares the prophecy with him even to his own demise.
In both instances, the instructor encouraged the students to reach beyond comfort, stir up the grace of God within them, and do what they were called to do. This natural course should also be happening in our churches; though it is not so.
So often, I have encouraged those who feel they are ready to act upon the grace gift of God, yet waiting on God to give them a sign… But in reality, God is waiting on them. So if you are wondering if you are ready to act on your call, the answer is YES! If you are wondering when you should begin to do what God has called you to do, the answer is NOW! Don’t delay one more day. Do it NOW.
Be encouraged! I’m right there with you on the cusp of taking my first international ministry trip. I don’t feel ready; yet, I am compelled to leave my comfort zone and embark on this new level. I’ll let you know how it goes…
If you need a safe place to activate your gift we have just the place.