Be Extraordinary

Christine Caine is a dynamic young woman who has decided to make a difference in her world. God is using her all over the world to raise awareness about human trafficking and to be a part of rescuing women from hopeless lives of slavery. Her life is inspiring.

I heard her speak a couple of weeks ago and one thing she said has stayed with me. As people look to her to know how to make a difference themselves in the world, she says,
"Your burning bush will find you. You may be tending your father-in-law's sheep in the desert when it does! Be faithful where you are."

So many times we look for the extraordinary task. We dream about how God could use us and the huge difference we could make in the world. But so often what God is asking us to do is the task at hand. He asks us to be faithful where we are, to meet the needs of those who are right in front of us, to love hurting people among us, to be His hands and feet here and now.

Amazingly, the ordinary becomes extraordinary when we dare to love and serve where we are.

In Matthew 25 Jesus told a parable about a master who gave his servants tasks. Upon returning to see what they had done with the opportunity he had given them, the master had these words to say to 2 of the servants:

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
verse 21

When Michael was a baby I found myself feeling useless and lost. I was in France and always at home with a child with special needs. For 3 years we couldn't find a school for him, since they were all full. During that time, God taught me a lesson that I hope I never forget. In the midst of feeling useless and wishing God would provide a school for Michael so that I could serve Him and make a difference, He spoke to me. Basically what He whispered to my heart was, "Serve me by caring for and loving the little boy I have you with all day long. Do that with joy and thanksgiving."

What I realized is that we want to serve God, but we don't necessarily want Him to choose the task. True obedience is when we make ourselves available to Him and obey with our whole hearts! So often obedience doesn't look like we think it will. Usually it means doing the thing that is right in front of you!

I pray that we will be found faithful where we are with the task at hand, that we will not be blind to the needs around us as we look for bigger tasks.

May we be found faithful!