The Divine Crash

Today, I was packing my boxes for my upcoming move and I found a journal I kept before I started seminary.  I was never good at keeping journals and have even gone months between entries (I am amazed at how well I have done with this blog).  As a result I sat down to read some of my writings from this journal.  I found entries I wrote shortly before starting seminary and the arguments I would have with God about my becoming a pastor.

One of the things I wrote in that journal was that if God really wanted me to be a pastor I needed the following this:

1. Money for seminary
2. A Job while in seminary
3. A new laptop while in seminary

That was everything I thought I needed to become a pastor.   I told God that if I was supposed to be a pastor I would have all those things.   I got them all and more.

Shortly after writing this entry I got a brand new top of the line laptop…..twice.

Shortly after that I was appointed to pastor a church that wouldn’t make me rich but would pay all my bills and health insurance…..twice

Shortly after that I was awarded a 100% tuition scholarship for seminary….all four years.

Deuteronomy 6:16 says not to test God.  God doesn’t like to be tested….I now know why because when you test God you will get what you are asking for.

When I told God that this is what needed to happen for me to be a pastor (that I already knew I was being called to be) I got all of those things and more.

God has already decided how your calling will work out.  You can keep arguing with God and telling God what it will take for you to do what you are supposed to be doing or you can give in and tell God what you need.

I have found it much easier to simply give in to what God is doing than to argue with the creator of the universe.  I have never won those arguments.

Last week in my sermon I made a statement that I think rings true here:  ”God made all of your butts but none of your excuses.”

So then, may you stop arguing with God and follow your calling.  It may be the hardest thing you have ever done and you may not know how it all works out but you will get everything you need and you will find more joy than you have ever known.

Filed under:
Pastoral Life by RevBT