Zoë Elmore
“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh King of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.” Genesis 41:46 (NIV)
Our oldest son graduated from college and now lives and works in another state. As parents we are grateful and proud for our son; not to mention relieved by the financial ease of having one less child on our “payroll.” While the benefits of his job are above and beyond what any new college grad could hope for, our son believes God is calling him to a place of service and ministry. When he asked for our opinion we tried hard to balance the love we have for him with the common sense of a parent that says you must be crazy to think about leaving this job. Of course we’d love to see our son serve the Lord in a ministry, but without clear direction and opportunity we have cautioned our son about the dangers of running ahead of God’s perfect timing.
God has gifted our son with the ability to connect with and influence people with his passion for life. While passion is a good thing, left unchecked it will burn out quickly. I’m reminded of David and Joseph from the Old Testament. Just like our son, they too had a passion to love and serve God. We learn from Scripture that God called these men into a place of service for His eternal kingdom; but only after a time of waiting while they experienced God’s refining fire of trial and temptation were they ready to assume the duties and responsibilities these positions would require.
Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him into slavery, and it wasn’t until he was 30 years old that he was promoted into Pharaoh’s service. At 16, David was told of his future as king, yet it took another sixteen years before that became a reality. Both men endured rejection, loneness, and deprivation along the pathway that led to their position of service. It’s interesting to note that there is no record of either man whining or complaining during his years of waiting. I can find no evidence that either man shook his fist in God’s face and demanded his reward. Instead I find men of integrity who learned patience and obedience while totally relying on God to work every circumstance for their good and His glory on their way to assuming the next position God had for them.
If you’re seeking God’s direction in your life, take a page from the life of Joseph and David. Commit your heart and your life to patiently waiting on God. Be obedient to what He has called you to do right now, and do it with excellence. Learn to be content while waiting on God to change your present circumstances. Ask God to show you the lessons He wants to teach you in order to be ready to assume the next position He is preparing you for. Do not run ahead of the Lord. Hurry is the death of trust.
Dear Lord, I long to know Your will for my life. Help me to be content right where You have placed me and teach me the lessons I must learn before receiving the next position You are preparing for me, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Living Life on Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Ask the Lord to reveal your spiritual gifts and talents and record them in your journal.
Develop those gifts and ask God to reveal how He wants you to practice your gifts for His service.
Reflections:
Are you doing your job with excellence everyday as you wait on the Lord to show you His plans for your life?
Check your attitude. Are you waiting on God with patience and obedience?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)
Psalm 40:1-5, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” (NIV)
“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh King of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.” Genesis 41:46 (NIV)
Our oldest son graduated from college and now lives and works in another state. As parents we are grateful and proud for our son; not to mention relieved by the financial ease of having one less child on our “payroll.” While the benefits of his job are above and beyond what any new college grad could hope for, our son believes God is calling him to a place of service and ministry. When he asked for our opinion we tried hard to balance the love we have for him with the common sense of a parent that says you must be crazy to think about leaving this job. Of course we’d love to see our son serve the Lord in a ministry, but without clear direction and opportunity we have cautioned our son about the dangers of running ahead of God’s perfect timing.
God has gifted our son with the ability to connect with and influence people with his passion for life. While passion is a good thing, left unchecked it will burn out quickly. I’m reminded of David and Joseph from the Old Testament. Just like our son, they too had a passion to love and serve God. We learn from Scripture that God called these men into a place of service for His eternal kingdom; but only after a time of waiting while they experienced God’s refining fire of trial and temptation were they ready to assume the duties and responsibilities these positions would require.
Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him into slavery, and it wasn’t until he was 30 years old that he was promoted into Pharaoh’s service. At 16, David was told of his future as king, yet it took another sixteen years before that became a reality. Both men endured rejection, loneness, and deprivation along the pathway that led to their position of service. It’s interesting to note that there is no record of either man whining or complaining during his years of waiting. I can find no evidence that either man shook his fist in God’s face and demanded his reward. Instead I find men of integrity who learned patience and obedience while totally relying on God to work every circumstance for their good and His glory on their way to assuming the next position God had for them.
If you’re seeking God’s direction in your life, take a page from the life of Joseph and David. Commit your heart and your life to patiently waiting on God. Be obedient to what He has called you to do right now, and do it with excellence. Learn to be content while waiting on God to change your present circumstances. Ask God to show you the lessons He wants to teach you in order to be ready to assume the next position He is preparing you for. Do not run ahead of the Lord. Hurry is the death of trust.
Dear Lord, I long to know Your will for my life. Help me to be content right where You have placed me and teach me the lessons I must learn before receiving the next position You are preparing for me, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Living Life on Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Ask the Lord to reveal your spiritual gifts and talents and record them in your journal.
Develop those gifts and ask God to reveal how He wants you to practice your gifts for His service.
Reflections:
Are you doing your job with excellence everyday as you wait on the Lord to show you His plans for your life?
Check your attitude. Are you waiting on God with patience and obedience?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV)
Psalm 40:1-5, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” (NIV)
Labels: Contentment, Patience, Perseverance, Relationships, Spiritual Growth, Waiting On God
8 Comments:
Thank you so very much!! I have been feeling confused and disappointed about where my life is right now. I know God has a wonderful plan for my life, and your devotion and scripture choices reminded that I am to be confident in where I am right now and wait patiently for God's perfect timeing.
This devotion was right on time for me this morning. My husband and I had a big fight and I was just saying in my mind how he doesn't get what I need him to be as my husband. This devotion reminds me that where people are in their lives, at this time, is exactly where they should be. My husband will become the husband he is supposed to be, not some fairytale I have in my mind. This morning I was reminded to pray and seek God's face for my needs and not in man, because they are not perfect not even me.
I just wanted to say Thank you for a wonderful Devotion. This morning I prayed to the Lord, asking him for direction in an area of my life. I know he is telling me to continue to wait on his perfect timing instead of Taking things into my own hands.
Thank You,
nice blog
I am grateful His words ministered to you through this devotional. I pray you would continue on in your pursuit of holiness. Waiting can be difficult, but waiting ALWAYS brings blessings. I'm excited at what your obedience to wait on the Lord will bring.
Praise the Lord for his Love and timing! Our little family needed this reminder of God's love and intrest in our lives as my husband is fighting despair in the midst of his long journey in the medical world...interesting how the examples you used cited men who began their journey in their late teens and did not "arrive" till about 30....sounds quite familiar to my Doctor hubby! Thanks for the encouragement...I'll email this to my husband who is in the midst of another 30 hour shift at work.
I am not a very patient person and I am waiting for God to answer an important prayer. At first it seemed like He was answering everything step by step and now this long lull of waiting for the final step. I was having a hard time understanding this and it has caused me all sorts of emotional and physical pain. I can't concentrate on anything without feeling forgotten by God. Last night I just cried and prayed for comfort. I prayed that God would just send someone to hold my hand through this because I'm not a patient person, yet. Thank you so much for these words of encouragement. They are holding me grounded when I just want to run ahead of the Lord. Thank you, thank you.
Dear Friend,
Your right. To do the will of God, you need to persevere with steadfast patience (Hebrews 10:36).
Keep up the good work.
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