I love to have conversations with people. If I had my way I would sit down and have a cup of coffee with each person individually in Harrisonburg. Mostly because I watch people and their lives are so different. Everyone has their own unique callings and giftings. There is something is inside of each of us that jumps when we think of the word destiny. Getting lost in a picture of something so much bigger than us is exhilarating.
I've recently picked back up Bill Hybel's book "Holy Discontent". In the book it talks a lot about that one problem or issue that really gets your blood boiling. The kind of thing that even if only for a moment you think you could give your time, your money, your energy, and perhaps even your life to.
Each and every person has a calling. There are many things in life God desires to do through us. Some of us search for the big "thing" out "there". Then there are some who are always content and satisfied with the little things He asks us to do. Sometimes He just wants us to give someone a hug or that person begging on the street our lunch money. The point really isn't whether it is big or small. The point is what has He created you for?
Howard Thurman once said, "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who are alive."
Only recently do I feel I have on some level discovered what is alive on the inside of me. To be honest, the process took far longer than I thought it would. I remember when I first started working at the church and I thought I knew myself so well. I was a 5 year plan kind of girl. God has changed me so much since then. I see glimpses of things, but I realize it is much more of a faith walk than I ever realized.
Now that my heart has been awakened more I realize I have come to a completely new season. Once you find a dream, you begin to realize that there are enemies in the camp. I have heard it said that anything in life that is worth having is worth fighting for. I must say I agree. Dreams do not become reality overnight and there are 100 voices that always want to pull you off of the wall.
The business administrator at our church talks a lot about Nehemiah. Nehemiah felt led to gather the Israelites and rebuild the city of Judah. Now, Nehemiah was not a man without passion. He spent days weeping and fasting before the Lord about the condition of the hearts of the Israelites and himself. It was his desire to see a place where his nation could gather and dwell with God. We read his passionate cries to God in Nehemiah 1. So he cries out to God and receives favor from the king to go forward with his plan to rebuild Judah.
The story takes another turn as Nehemiah begins to build. In chapter 3 everything is going smoothly seemingly. He has assembled his team. Each person is aware of their job and is working hard to perform it.
Until chapter 4...Chapter 4 introduces the enemy of Nehemiah's dream. You can read the insults in the voice of Sanballat (Nehemiah's enemy) when he says, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--stones that are burned?". As if having someone like Sanballat in the picture were not enough, the people begin to cry out against him. They came to him complaining and Nehemiah had to expose the fact that they are actually involved in usury. A chapter later Sanballat is back with a group of people and they plotted against Nehemiah.
Sound exhuasting? So what was Nehemiah's response to all of this? In chapter 5, in the middle of all of this, we see him being extremely generous to the people. He did not buy land as the governer and did not lay heavy burdens on the people. He actually continued to work.
When Sanballat and his gang came to speak with Nehemiah his response was, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?"
There is a principle here. Nehemiah didn't become bitter by those who were against his dream. In fact, he continued to give generously. He also continued to work...
Many times the enemy will use people or circumstances to pull us off of the trajectory God has us on. Instead of responding or focusing on the criticism of others our main goal must be to stay on the wall.
Knowing what you are called to is the beginning of your journey. To be sure the enemy is afraid of that.
It does no good, however , to have a dream, but lack focus. That is chasing a fantasy.
At the end of Nehemiah life, he was able to look back and see the things the Lord has accomplished through him. The walls of the city stood as tangible fruit of a dream that made it into reality.
I encourage you, once the Lord has given you a dream or you discover your passion do not let it be aborted by distraction or daydreaming. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will partner with Him. Peter only sank when he took his eyes off of Jesus.
Once you step out the boat, keep your focus on the One you are walking toward.
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