(Below are Nicole's thoughts on Chapter 13 of Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On. Please know that what we all learn from a study is usually different. Therefore, we ask, if you feel like it, to please share in the comments section what you got out of the reading as well. We're sure you'll lift some one's spirits!)
When I first saw the title of Chapter 13, Expecting A Call, I was very excited. As I mentioned in previous posts, I sometimes have a hard time hearing from God. Now I realize that it's not that God isn't trying to call me, it's that I'm too busy on the "other line".
Brief re-cap:
In Chapter 13, Stormie shares with us how we each have a purpose. God has called a specific purpose on to each of our lives. I love how Stormie says on page 113 "will we listen to find out what it is?" She goes on to explain that many people are "too busy, too drugged out, too tired, too preoccupied, or too in pursuit of riches and fame to God calling them." Towards the bottom of page 113, she says "the only reason it appears that some people are 'more called' by God than others is that they were expecting the call and answered it." Stormie then explains how some people know their calling but can't figure out how to make it happen. She says "God doesn't say 'here's what I want you to do with your life, now go do it.' He first gives a vision and then says 'Walk step by step with Me and I'll do it through you." God's purpose on our life doesn't just come upon us suddenly. We gradually realize our purpose. Stormie shares how she found her purpose.
First she asked God what she was to do with her life. Then, she had to surrender her dreams. During the waiting period, she felt a "tug on her heart" that she would have never otherwise noticed in the "noisy fast lane". Once she found her call she was able to be completely dependent on God. Stormie also says that once you hear God's call on your life, it may not happen right away so don't turn your waiting period into darkness. God is waiting for the right time for you to be ready. On page 117, Stormie writes "God's call on all of us is to be a light to those who are in the darkness, but sometimes He has to take us through our own darkness so we will learn to depend totally on His light." She continues on page 119 with "You need faith that He will speak to you, that you can hear Him, and that it will be good news."
After reading this chapter, I realized why it's hard for me to hear from Him at times. I realized that I totally believed that I couldn't hear from Him. Satan has tricked me once again. He's kept me busy so I couldn't hear from God, he's told me I'll never hear from God and he's even made me angry with God because I couldn't hear from Him. All I have to say now is get behind me Satan because Stormie has shown me how wrong you are! I will hear my purpose in life from God. He will show me. I'm not quite sure what it will be but I do know it will be good! In the meantime, I've surrendered my dream of my son being healed of autism. I've given it to God. He will, hopefully, give it back to me. I will press forward with helping my son through bio-medical treatments, therapy and just playing with him. But I will not worry about ten years from now. I will not worry about what will happen when he starts first grade in the fall. I will not worry about if he will sleep through the night tonight. I will quiet these crazy thoughts in my head so that I can hear from God. Right now, He's telling me that I am exactly where He needs for me to be at the time. I think about this blog and how many people each of us are reaching by us sharing our most personal thoughts, concerns and beliefs. I think about that one person out there that doesn't know how great our God is or may not even know God and is lost in this world of autism not knowing where to turn next and how through this blog we can reach that person. He has me exactly where I need to be and I trust in Him to show me what to do next. I believe that we all have our main purpose in life. I'm still looking for mine. However, I also believe that we have short purposes in life. Something we have to do for a season or two. I know that through my son having autism, He wants me to reach out to other moms who are going through something similar. He may need me to do this forever or it may just be a couple of seasons. I can't question Him. I don't want to question Him. I know that He has my best interest and your best interest at heart. He loves us so much and wants to talk to us and tell us His plans for our lives. But, as we read in Chapter 13, I've been too busy trying to cure my son myself, too busy full of worry, too stressed out about finances, too busy to really listen. I feel like I will always be waiting for my dream if I don't really listen out for what God wants me to do and then do it! I'm ready for my dream to come true.
I'm listening God....what do you need for me to do?
"Dear Lord, thank you for showing us how easy it is to hear from You. I pray that You will quiet all the noises around us so that when You are calling, we can hear You and know that it is You. Please help us give You anything that is not from You. Show us our purpose in life today Lord and keep us focused on this purpose and not side tracked by all the busyness in life. In Your name we pray, Amen."
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden......Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14,16
"O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant."
2 Samuel 7:28
2 comments:
Thanks for the inspiration. Nicole. Seems like it gets harder and harder for me lately to stay positive and be "worry-free", but your posts every week help and I often feel you are speaking directly to me. So please keep up the good work!
I agree; thanks for the inspiration. I especially like the part where she says "you need faith to believe that He will speak to you, that you can hear Him, and that it will be good news." How funny that sometimes I can think that it won't be good news - like worrying that He will ask something of me that is too hard, etc.
Lately, I have been finding myself just trying to make my heart quiet and available to him. To recognize, as you wrote, that my life needs to be dependant on him totally. And that when I follow after what He wants for me, I don'y have to feel all stressed out. I usually do still feel stressed out - but the key is that I don't have to (smile).
Post a Comment