It’s Time to Play in God’s Wood Shop
I actually began writing this a couple of years ago. However, I continue to wrestle with finding patience to listen and look for GOD to lead me ever closer to Him One thing that I’ve begun to realize is that I’m not nearly as essential to His purpose as I thought that I was. I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t care for me. A glance at John 3:16 reminds all of us just how much He loves us. However, as He fulfills His purpose my real role is more like a child playing in his father’s wood shop. Maybe that’s why Jesus’ earthly trade skill was as a carpenter.
When my children were young, they enjoyed visiting their gradparents. My father-in-law had a wood shop with all of the tools, patterns, and materials to build all kinds of toys. My kids would go to the shop with him. A few hours later, they would emerge with a beautifully built dump truck or wooden duck that could walk as it was pushed by a long stick. They would proudly show off the prize that “they had made.” In reality, their grandfather had supplied the materials, skills, and effort to really make the prize. The kids had been invited to join him in the work. They had enjoyed playing with him as he did the work. He enjoyed their company and poured his love out on them. This relatonship brought joy to everyone who was involved. I believe that this is a picture of GOD’s relationship with us. Maybe it’s time to stop taking ourselves so seriously and enjoy the opportunity to be with Him.
My studies during the past few years continue to convict me of my need to stop seeking how my desires fit into GOD’s plan, but simply seek GOD’s will and His invitation to me to join His work. That is an early lesson from Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing GOD” and a lesson that I am striving to open my heart to see GOD as He works around me. Each time I try to “negotiate” a compromise with GOD to let me “be in charge” of the plan, He says “NO!” Whether I read through the various books or listen to the lecture from my Spiritual Formation class their messages are telling me that my role is to do His will and not convince Him that my will is good too. When I try to justify my plans by telling GOD how good they are, I read in the Bible “It is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Philippians 2:13.
These are not easy lessons for me to do. In fact, I feel somewhat like the character Eustis in C.S. Lewis’ novel “Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” The young boy, Eustis found himself turned into a dragon. He couldn’t change himself into a boy again. Then the great lion dug his sharp claws deep into the dragon’s skin. Layer after layer was ripped off and finally the boy was found again. For many years as a strategist, I operated quite independently. I was educated to identify resources and develop plans to employ those resources to achieve a desired endstate. The endstate was determined via queries to and statements from customers and stakeholders. Strategy was a product of means, ways, and ends. My job was to package these components into a nice, neat package and then work through an organization to implement the strategy. This could be very rewarding or very frustrating. When everything worked according to my plan, I felt accomplished and proud. However, I had to accept responsibility when the plan fails to accomplish the goals that I intended. Whose plans were these anyway?
During one worship service, a lady began to talk about her frustration in her service to GOD. She said that she had dedicated her life to health care. She tried to conquer diseases and bring comfort to the sick. However, disease is more rampant today that ever and she felt her life had been wasted.
Many of us can sympathize, but we have missed the point. The work is not mine. The ministry is not mine. The calling is not mine. And the results are not mine. I am freed of my inadequate abilities and shortfalls when I accept my role as His child and give up my prideful ownership of what isn’t mine anyway. I work to obey the desires of my Father. I don’t own the outcome of that work. There is no rank among the workers. One job is not more important that another. Some may be more visible at one moment than another, but all of GOD’s work is accomplished in harmony by the perfect, master strategist. GOD will make it all work together for good. He promised us that (Romans 8:28). But, He works on His schedule and not mine. “We exist to serve GOD and not persuade GOD to serve us.” (page 68, “Conformed to His Image” by Kenneth Boa) The work is GOD’s and I have been invited to participate. My career, though I intend it for good works, may or may not be truly “service to GOD.” Through prayerful study of His word and submission to the His leading, GOD’s work, what He is doing all around us right now, is revealed to us. When I see His work, I am invited to participate as His servant. It is simple, but the simple is seldom easy. Carl von Clausewitz said, “in war all things are simple, but the simple is difficult.” I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I pray that GOD will continue to transform my spirit to accept it anyway.
In Him,
Dan
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