I am not a bigtime blogger. This journey into blogging has not even reached one year yet, so it makes sense that I am still reaching under twenty people. But I am fine with that. I know that whatever God wants to happen will happen when he desires it to. All I have to do for the time being is follow God's direction.
That being said, I still like to look to my fellow blogging community for advice. Often my searches in Google have the word blog somewhere in it. Sometimes what I find is encouraging. I read a tutorial on how to do something that I have never tried and leave invigorated and excited. Other times, after reading blog posts insisting that I can't get by without doing this or that, I leave discouraged because I know that's just not the way that God has called me to do things.
Am I the only one? I know that not everyone wants to pursue blogging like I do, but have you ever taken a look into the world that you feel God has called you to and left feeling discouraged?
Maybe you want to lead but have read that you're not assertive enough, or male enough. Maybe the field you want to go in is one that involves being in the spotlight- something few people in this world get to do. Whatever it is that you feel God has placed in your heart, I think we have all felt like God was trying to get a fish to fly at some point. But let me propose that that is a good thing.
Throughout the Bible, people have been called to the most unlikely spots. There is story after story of people doing things in an odd way; a way that most would describe as out of character. Moses was afraid to speak, much less lead and entire nation. Not to mention the disconnect between him and the people because of his Egyptian upbringing. Moses might as well have been trying to row up the Nile the wrong direction without a paddle! But Moses did it.
Esther was not suppose to approach the king like she did. It was against the rules, and considering that the last queen got nixed because she did not come before the King when asked, I think when and when not to come before him was pretty important to the King! But she did, and the King favored her.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah decided not to eat what the king had for them. By taking a stand for God and eating only vegetables and water they were also potentially endangering their lives. But at the end of the ten days on vegetables and water, they looked much more fit than the other young men who indulged in the kings food. It didn't make sense in the eyes of the man over them, but they did it, and God honored them.
Rahab the prostitute invited in and protected the spies sent from Israel even though they were about to overthrow the place that she lived. But she acted out of character. Rahab broke the mold, and she is in the line of Jesus!
Ruth decided to stay with her mother in law instead of staying with her people. She held onto Naomi while Orpah left. It was completely outside of what we would expect from Ruth, in fact it perplexes me sometimes when reading it. But Ruth stepped out of the expected and started on a journey that would end up introducing her to a new man that would care for her and provide for her. Ruth was not destined to continue on as a widow for the rest of her life. But who knows what might have happened if she had decided to play it safe instead of honor Naomi (who had nothing for her).
Sometimes a life or career led by God will lead us to do things that others might ridicule or scoff at. When we follow God, we tend to do things differently. Joseph put food away, and in doing so, saved an entire nation! Why? Because he had an inside man: God. When you trust God, he will lead you to do things that in the natural make little sense, but in the heavenlies things are falling into place.
We are different because of God. We are taught to love instead of seeking out power to lord over others. The world might not quite get it, but when they see what God does through you and with you, they'll be forced to say, "somethings's different about them, and it's working".
God favors the under dog, the quiet person, the servant. We don't have to be loud or obnoxious and try to make our own way like the rest of the world. God lifts us up on wings like eagles- he's already making a way!
If you're weary because the world describes leaders as strong, powerful, in control, overbearing, and commanding- If you're exhausted from getting looked over because those around you appear to others to be more fit like Daniel and his brothers, don't give up. Do not give up. God sees you! He sees all that you are and how far you are willing to go for him.
We must lean on God for the strength to be patient while outside sources try to discourage. God values those who are willing to go against the grain. God is counter culture. He is completely opposite of what one expects an all powerful being to be. We are bound not to fit in. Even the Pharisees did not recognize the son of God among them because they had different ideas about what a reining king would look and act like. But God had a plan, and it was only going to work his way.
So we may not fit the mold. We may have the rest of the world trying to tell us that we don't have the right credentials. But if God Almighty called us to do something, you'd better believe that we are going to be able to do it, and do it right. We only need to stay rooted in what God called is to do. Not what the blog posts, tutorials, gurus or experts insist that we need to do. If we make sure to always listen to what God is asking of us, he is always faithful to lift us up in due time for his glory.
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Thanks for reading! This is something that God has impressed upon me for a while now. What do you feel like God is calling you to do? Have you ever felt like the the world is trying to tell you to back off of what you know God has for you? Let's talk about it! I would love to have your input!
If you'd like to stay in touch after you leave, you can find me on Facebook, or you can always go old school and enter in your email address to the side.
God has great plans for you! And always remember, God L O V E S you!
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