Just accepting my place in the world

[ByTheSpirit]

Just thought I would share something that has semi helped me get through. I felt I was always destined for something "big and important". But I'm finding out now more than ever, "the world doesn't need more people who are big and important. It needs more people who are nice, and compassionate" (assist to VeggieTales for the quote).

Seriously, I always felt like getting an "official" call to ministry was where I belonged. I need to be a Pastor, I need to be a missionary, I need to be this or I'm failing and not accomplishing anything.

Then it hit me while thinking about stuff the other day, I can honestly say I have done more for God just being myself while I'm out and about, than at any time when I actually did have a "ministry" position.

The people who would approach me and say they noticed me praying over food in Basic Training, or reading my Bible in Iraq, or saying "Jesus loves you" to an atheist confirm to me I don't need a title or label to accomplish things for God. No offense given or meant to actual ministry members.

If I can just accept the place God has put me in right now, then everything else will fall in place.

So I don't know, maybe you are like me and feel you have to have a title to do something. Don't drag yourself like I did, just live the life God has put in front of you right now, be Jesus to someone who may never feel compelled to walk into a church.

 

[rainingviolets]

When I used to teach Children's Church we always taught the kids a song called My Own Neighborhood. The lyrics were simple and said how "I don't have travel far " across the sea, go to a different country, learn a different language, or, in your words, do "something big and important" to serve God. One of the lines was "I can be a missionary in my own neighborhood." Of all the lessons we taught over all the years, other than the plan of salvation, I thought that was one of the most important things we ever taught those young children. Not everyone is destined to be a Moses, a David, or a Paul. Not everyone is given the ability to be a pastor or lead a church. Some of us are given gifts to reach others who will only be witnessed to when they cross our path in a Mcdonalds, in a waiting room, at the park, or over a backyard fence. Those souls are just as important to the Lord as the ones overseas. We are all equal in the eyes of God. Your ministry, and yes it is a ministry, is just as vital as the person with the official title of pastor or missionary. That was the lesson we tried to teach those young kids. As I see them today as young adults serving the Lord in all kinds of roles I am confident it is a lesson they learned well.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I find when you feel the need to be something, this is part of the formative part of the psyche latching onto something to fulfill a role based desire, the church sees this, takes advantage of it .. it's not like they're casting people out like Jesus did when they wanted to be favorably associated with him for the wrong reasons.

 

[Tempura]

Thank you for that. And I agree. We can get fixated in "God's plan" in weird ways. Our first instinct might be of the sort where we think of grand things; as if there is this path to glory and greatness, something "official" and easily recognizable to everyone. Perhaps one can imagine holy fire burning their feet as they're rushing through the parting seas to do wonders, anything out of the ordinary and never lowly. Much like when we're praying for something, often we pray for something specific, and then we fix our eyes on that very thing. We wait for that thing to change, for something to happen in ways we expect, and if our tunnel-vision takes over, we might not notice what's really happening outside of our perception.

Not to take anything away from pastors or ministers, God bless them and help them do His will, there have been and will be many great ones, either widely known or not known at all. Even one soul touched by the Lord through any of these people is a victory, and I cannot downplay the foundation for what many of these people have been a part of.

But if I think of people who have touched me with God's love the most, they have just been ordinary people. They didn't probably even think they were on a mission, and most likely they have no idea what they did. They might not even remember me. But I remember what happened. It was real. They didn't need a rank for it, they didn't need to be someone in order to be used by God, they didn't need to be recognized by any system or authority in this world, and God used them without them really being aware or specifically preparing for it.

 

[GTW27]

Just thought I would share something that has semi helped me get through. I felt I was always destined for something "big and important". But I'm finding out now more than ever, "the world doesn't need more people who are big and important. It needs more people who are nice, and compassionate" (assist to VeggieTales for the quote).

Seriously, I always felt like getting an "official" call to ministry was where I belonged. I need to be a Pastor, I need to be a missionary, I need to be this or I'm failing and not accomplishing anything.

Then it hit me while thinking about stuff the other day, I can honestly say I have done more for God just being myself while I'm out and about, than at any time when I actually did have a "ministry" position.

The people who would approach me and say they noticed me praying over food in Basic Training, or reading my Bible in Iraq, or saying "Jesus loves you" to an atheist confirm to me I don't need a title or label to accomplish things for God. No offense given or meant to actual ministry members.

If I can just accept the place God has put me in right now, then everything else will fall in place.

So I don't know, maybe you are like me and feel you have to have a title to do something. Don't drag yourself like I did, just live the life God has put in front of you right now, be Jesus to someone who may never feel compelled to walk into a church.

It is not the "somethings" that will make a difference, it is the "nothings" that will make a difference. It will be these that will turn the tide. For when one becomes nothing, it is then that The Lord will raise them up.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I have always thought that even if I couldn't do something concrete in ministry, then at least my prayers could reach a place I couldn't.

I am positive that when we get to heaven, we will only then realize how big (or little) an impact we have had for the Kingdom. My fear remains that I haven't and won't be able to do enough, but it's honestly out of my hands. I just have to trust Jesus to bring me the labor he has for me.

If that's being a Pastor, then Shepherd through me Lord.

If it's being a prayer warrior, then may the Spirit guide my words.

If my only purpose is ever to flip burgers at the local restaurant, then may I carry myself in a way that brings Yahweh glory and praise.

We all have different callings, but the same purpose, to bring God glory in whatever task he has assigned us.