Last week for the thankfulness photo rally, I posted a photo of a card I signed 5 years ago at Radiate. This is what the card says…
“God created me uniquely and wonderfully for His purposes, which He prepared for me before I was born. Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and Lord, and because He has called me to live for eternal purposes rather than temporal gains, I commit to following Jesus Christ wherever He leads me for the rest of my life.”
I signed it and dated it on December 30th, 2009.
Then I checked a box underneath that says God has led me to spend at least a year of my life in full-time vocational ministry.
Five years later I am in the middle of my fourth year serving in full-time vocational ministry and I still have this card sitting on my desk every single day.
It’s more than just a card though.
It reminds me of God’s faithfulness to bring clarity to His calling.
When I checked the box, I had no idea when I would do it or what it would look like. I just knew my heart raced at the briefest mention of sharing the hope of Jesus that is greater than anything this world could offer. Did that mean He was calling me to do it? Maybe. Maybe not. I remember crying and at the end of the meeting running to tell a friend on staff that I didn’t understand why I checked the box. But in His perfect timing, He brought clarity. He led me to passages in scripture, used the wisdom of other people in my life, and prayer to make it abundantly clear that His plan for me was to join Cru staff. This card reminds me that even though I didn’t fully understand the plan in the moment (and really still don’t), God honored a step of faith and brought clarity. Likewise, He’ll continue to make the path clear now and in the future.
It reminds me that God speaks to His children.
John 8:47 says that whoever is of God hears the words of God. I’m still trying to grasp and understand “hearing” God. (It is a big question that I’d love to talk about with you. Feel free to email if that’s a desire!) This card reminds me of multiple times when I was confident God was speaking to me. It was not audible and I find it hard to describe sometimes. But I know when I signed this card that the words in the speaker’s talk at Radiate resonated with me louder than I’d ever experienced. They were in line with Scripture and God’s heart. I could not shake the thought from my mind. And multiple times after the conference God confirmed His leading into ministry through more ways. So some days when I feel a little lost, seeing this card reminds me that God spoke to me and will continue to speak to me. And if He speaks, then I can approach Him confidently and patiently wait for His leading.
It reminds me stand firm in moments of doubt.
God constantly instructs the Israelites to build things that will remind them of His work. Jesus commands us to take communion as a means of remembering His death and resurrection. God desires for us to remember moments. Why? Because when the going gets tough we’re quick to doubt. When things are hard, I confess I sometimes want to quit. I forget God called me to this work. I did not randomly decided to do it. But when I see this card, I can’t deny the work God did in my life to prepare me for ministry. It reminds me of the clarity I had in my calling before the difficulties.
This card is more than a card. It is a means to remember the story God is writing through my life and leads me to praise Him. He is a good God. He is clear. He speaks. He never changes.
So this thanksgiving season, I’m really thankful God gave me a way to remember. Do you have a story that you need to remember? Write it down. Frame it. Do something.
I signed it and dated it on December 30th, 2009.
John 8:47 says that whoever is of God hears the words of God. I’m still trying to grasp and understand “hearing” God. (It is a big question that I’d love to talk about with you. Feel free to email if that’s a desire!) This card reminds me of multiple times when I was confident God was speaking to me. It was not audible and I find it hard to describe sometimes. But I know when I signed this card that the words in the speaker’s talk at Radiate resonated with me louder than I’d ever experienced. They were in line with Scripture and God’s heart. I could not shake the thought from my mind. And multiple times after the conference God confirmed His leading into ministry through more ways. So some days when I feel a little lost, seeing this card reminds me that God spoke to me and will continue to speak to me. And if He speaks, then I can approach Him confidently and patiently wait for His leading.