{Flourish kicks off a new blog category called “ABC’s for Ministry Wives”. These words will represent features we think every wife should consider as she walks out her role in ministry. Note for our orderly types-these will not be in alphabetical order.}
Stuck.
It’s a place we’ve all been.
Jammed between inspiration and calculation.
Inspired to do something different,
But calculating all the reasons why we can’t.
As a pastor’s wife, I’m an influencer.
As a disciple, I’m a people mover;
A mobilizer.
Consider Jesus’ words, “Follow-Me”, “Pray with me”, “You feed them”, “Go.”
Jesus continually moved his followers to new places.
MOBILIZERS INITIATE LEADING PEOPLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
This white-haired lady meandered around our church’s Mission Center. Some of us have gray hair and hide it (Thank you, Clairol!). Jane wears her bobbed-white hair well!
Sensing her reluctant eagerness I asked, “Are you thinking about going?”
Her answer was one I hear all the time.
It’s one I’ve used many times.
It was the ‘”stuck” kind of answer.
“I want to, but I don’t think I can.”
Regardless of the topic – Bible study, prayer, leading, etc
We all risk getting stuck on the “SOMEDAY SLOPE.”
Someday, when I get married then I’ll…
Someday, when I have money, then I’ll …
Someday, when my kids go to school then I’ll ….
Someday when I have more time then I’ll …
“Someday” passes us by
while we live everyday
until “someday” never
occurs any day.
Then I hear,
“Today, I’m too old so I can’t…”
MOBILIZERS SPEAK VALUE INTO WHO SOMEONE IS AND VISION FOR WHERE THEY COULD GO
Jane was stirred to go, but planning to stay. She reasoned that her age disqualified her. Her age, however, made her perfect for furthering the kingdom. It took a simple of story of helping her match the stirring in her heart with what she couldn’t see. The village she was considering going to highly respects older women. I simply told Jane, “Because you have gray hair, your voice will speak louder than any seminary-trained pastor.” Her face lit up.
MOBILIZERS HEAR PEOPLE’S FEAR BUT FEED THEIR FAITH.
When God stirs our hearts, there is fear that accompanies the new God-possibility. It’s a normal spiritual rhythm that builds trust. Not only did Jane have fears, so did her husband. “There’s no way my husband will let me go,” she said. “Plus, I don’t have a passport.”
Her circumstances didn’t seem to line up with the stirring in her heart.
MOBILIZERS LEAD OTHERS TO SEE OBSTACLES NOT AS ROADBLOCKS BUT OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD TRUST IN GOD.
God was doing something in Jane, but what? I didn’t know. She didn’t know. We both agreed to pray and ask God what He was doing.
Two days later I received an email from Jane – “My husband is practically filling out my passport application for me. We are expediting it tomorrow!”
MOBILIZERS LEAD PEOPLE TO AN EXPERIENCE WITH GOD THAT CAN ONLY BE EXPLAINED BY HIM.
Two weeks after our conversation, which really lasted about as long as it’s taken you to read this blog, I received another email.
“I never expected that getting my passport would be a worship experience. Thank you for being an audible voice of God.”
Truth is, it was a small moment that could have passed by.
It didn’t require giving a motivational speech. God was already moving in her heart.
She was just in that stuck place. Immobile. Inspired to move, but calculating all the reasons why she thought she couldn’t.
It only took a little influence, a little mobilizing, for her to move out of “stuck” and go forward.
Published November 22, 2013
