This year, my youngest son really wanted a particular NERF Rival gun for Christmas. When he was showing it to me back in October, I told him he should think about other things - it would be an extravagant gift (at least extravagant for our budget!).
After our conversation, he decided that he was going to earn enough money to buy it for himself. His brother helped him research on several websites for the best price, and he narrowed it down to the least expensive, new item on eBay. With a goal price set, he began asking us for jobs to complete for payment, so that he could earn enough money for this gun.
In the meantime, Brian and I reviewed Christmas lists, and of course our youngest’s NERF gun was at the top of his! He hadn’t asked for much of anything else, so we decided that we (Santa) could get this extravagant gift for him. He had no idea that we had already purchased it and it was hiding in the house when he was asking for jobs and working diligently to edge closer and closer to his goal!
One day as he was working for payment, the Holy Spirit recalled this scripture to my heart and mind. Jesus taught the crowds (Matthew 7:9-11):
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
In that moment, I saw myself. I am the worker, too - thinking and planning for a goal. People have asked me, “What is your goal with your music? Are you hoping to just write? Are you wanting to do concerts and be on the radio?” The answer is always, “As God makes a place for my feet, I’ll take the next step ahead.” I usually don’t know what the next step entails until it is placed before my feet. God has positioned me in a place where I am completely navigating waters I don’t know, so I have no choice but to trust Him! What I do know is that my goal is to bring glory to God, to magnify His name.
And, God is my wise, loving Father. He already sees where this is all going to end. He sees what good gifts that He has for me and this ministry He has given to me.
I have already experienced good gifts along the way - what a gift it is to tell people not to give up, that they may be pressed, but are not crushed; to tell people that their worth is not determined by what others think of them, but determined by the name given to them by the King of kings; to tell them the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
When Habakkuk approached God with his questions, God answered (Habakkuk 2:3),
For the revelation awaits an appointed time: it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
So in the meantime, God is securing my heart and exposing idols that I allow to speak louder than His voice. My faith and trust are being built in Him as I ask Him what I can “work” to do to get closer to the goal at the appointed time. He has a perfect plan for that time. What better than to be used by Almighty God to tell of His Holiness? That’s my ultimate goal. How it plays out? I’ll have to wait for that.