There’s a good chance, former procrastinators, that most of us have a job right now we wish we did not have. Moses objected to the job God had for him. (Exodus 3-4:17) He did not want the responsibility of leading the Isrealites out of Egypt. “They will not believe me… I don’t speak well… Pick somebody else.”
God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?”
“A staff.”
Then God showed Moses how He’d use that staff to give Moses credibility, speak for him in a sense, and verify God’s choice of Moses as leader.
Sometimes it seems the other way ‘round. We do not have a job and want one. In this case, too, I think the question could be the same: What is that in your hand? What ordinary ability do you have or tool do you use in normal life?
In each stage of life, the answer tells us how we can say “Yes” to God and maximize the opportunity given us by our age and place in life. The “staff” tells us how to walk through the window of opportunity we have.
What opportunity could the mother of young children have? James Dobson said the most fatigued people he knew were the mothers of small children. You’re so tired you feel you have nothing left to give.
Consider a mother’s helper on a regular basis. This is a young girl who occupies your children while you’re home, thus freeing you for something else. It takes a while to train the children you’re not available, but they learn. Training a young girl to care well for children is a service to her and benefits you.
One mom I know meets friends in the park where they talk about genuinely important things while watching kids play. A Bible study grew out of this.
Another mom who loves to bake, teaches her little ones while she works and then sells the bread they’ve made together.
Soccer game conversations, babysitting, carpooling – each is a staff that offers opportunities to serve God and others in this time of life.
What ordinary task that you do could be viewed as your staff?
Leave a Reply