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There’s a need for prep work in us too. It’s nothing
new—Moses spent forty years in the desert. Jesus went forty days in the
wilderness. Joseph spent time in prison. Paul was prepared in Tarsus. And, the
Israelites wandered for forty years. It’s just that we don’t like the idea of a
wilderness, of being set aside. Finding ourselves alone shakes us up a
little—maybe a lot. But, anytime we face ourselves in solitude, we discover
Christ in a fresh way. The wilderness experience gives us time to reassess our focus
and draws us nearer to His heart and purpose.
The wilderness, or time on the shelf if you will, is often
the prep work for His next step. It can be lonely or uncomfortable, but it’s
never unfruitful. It has a way of burning away the dross so our hearts burn
pure again.
Since breaking my foot on September 22nd, I am
facing some prep work. I assume it has something to do with how I move forward
with writing and speaking. I left my job to pursue ministry “full-time” but not
sure what it’ll look like. Instead of being home, ripping into fall cleaning, I
am resting as my foot heals. I think God knows I’d fill my time with other
projects—too busy to be still and listen. I don’t know. But, for whatever
reason, He’s decided to slow me down—for some prep work. Now, to be honest, my
feet may not be moving but my mind sure is.
So, my prayer has been to slow down my whirling thoughts so
I can hear His whispers. I am confident. He will accomplish in me what He
intends and prepare me for the work that’s coming next. Through the prep work, He’s
getting ready to stir something new in me.
How about you? Share a time when you felt set aside…what
prep work did He do in you?
Waiting to be stirred,
Jeanne
PS: It’s not lost on me that my six-week recovery time is
about 40 days. I love God’s sense of humor!
