I have been in Korea now for nearly six years. Coming out God impressed on my heart (and my dad’s heart) that I would eventually be going to the nations, particularly North Korea. But arriving here, my focus was solely on the children at my home. For three years I lived in the home with the kids and spent almost all my free time with them, only leaving for church meetings or Korean language studies. God had me move out of the home after three years here, but I have to admit I didn’t want to leave. I had grown comfortable in the home and was beginning to put my whole life in it, thinking that perhaps I could live there forever while still go out for ministry here and there.
Looking back then I can see God was beginning to avert my focus from the home to the nations. While I am still serving the home for my sixth year here in Korea, I know eventually I won’t be able to serve there as much as I do. But despite this, I am still trying to find my identity fully in my ministry to these kids. I am still identifying myself mostly as a missionary to a children’s home in Korea… rather than a director of a volunteering ministry or a healing/deliverance coordinator for my church. My focus is mostly on whether I’m having an effect on these kids, and I get most encouraged when I see progress in them and most discouraged when I don’t feel I’m being effective with them.
I know while God desires for me to value these children, I also know that they are not the end game for my life. God has called me to serve North Korea and the nations. He has called me to something beyond my current life. And so I can’t set my identity fully in my current life. While I am to love them while I am with them, I still have to be ready to step out into new things.
When God appeared to Moses, Moses’ identity was in his sheep. He was a shepherd and his staff was the symbol of his work. For forty years Moses had learned to shepherd his sheep. He had learned to care for them, guide them, and protect them. Obviously God had set him there for a purpose, as Moses would soon have to shepherd a nation.
But while shepherding the sheep was meant to grow Moses’ character and while God of course desired Moses to do a good job in taking care of his sheep, shepherding sheep was not Moses’ end game. It was not the full call on his life. Yet when God appeared to Moses, Moses was immediately reluctant to go and obey the Lord. For forty years he had grown comfortable with the sheep. He didn’t want to let go, especially so suddenly.
So what did God do? He commanded Moses to throw down his staff. God then showed Moses signs to help convince Moses that He would be with him. Then God told Moses to pick up the same staff that he had used to shepherd and God told Moses that now the staff would be used for signs and wonders. And if you read Exodus closely, from then on whenever that staff is mentioned it is no longer mentioned as “the staff of Moses,” but as “the staff of God.” As Moses surrendered his identity to God, God was able to use him for far greater things. Within weeks Moses went from taking care of some sheep to leading a nation.
I believe God has a call for all of us, and for many of us our current work or studies are preparation for fulfilling that call. Joseph had to learn to be a son, a servant, and even a prisoner before he was ready to lead the nation. David was a shepherd, a soldier, the king’s musician, and a general before he became king. Even Jesus was a son and a carpenter before His ministry began. Imagine if Joseph became attached to living in prison, or if David became attached to being a shepherd, or even Jesus became attached to being a carpenter? Then the calling on their lives would have never been fulfilled.
Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t seeing much progress where you are right now. Continue to be faithful in what God calls you to do, and understand that no matter how much fruit or how little fruit is coming from your efforts, God is building you up. Someday you will understand why some things worked out so well while other things didn’t workout so well, despite your consistent efforts. Through everything, God has been preparing you for greater things.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God bless!
