A few years ago when I was going through a major decision regarding a vision for my life, a wonderful encourager and friend reached out to me to write a beautiful email. His words gave me what I needed….the truth, not how I should feel or do from his viewpoint. I am honored by the few people I call my inner circle that know me enough to not try to fix but push me, love me enough to stay engaged no matter how much we might disagree on opinion, and have the courage and take the risk to ask me hard questions without knowing how I will respond.
Bryan sent this email to me and I re-read it every time I begin to question the plans of God or feel I need to be doing something because my life seems stalled or in order to bring His plans or my purpose about. The Lord, knowing my struggle since childhood with control and performance (basing worth & acceptance on what I do), has continually allowed situations to teach me how to get out the way of trying to do what only He can bring about. I love Him most because He loves me well, not how I want or think He should love me to be happy. Hard journey but oh how it is worth it!
I would like to share this email with you for your encouragement, strength, trust, and learning. May this email from Bryan (also see the archive for other posts from him) be a continual blessing to you as it is to me.
Dear Charlotte:
“It is always a joy hearing from you, and I couldn’t wait to respond. What you’re going through right now in regard to discerning God’s will sounds so familiar to me and is, I firmly believe, in keeping with the “ways” of God. Perhaps you’re familiar with this three-fold manner with which God leads His saints:
1) God births within us a vision–a burden for ministry and/or something noble and good. We get excited about it, and begin to make plans and formulate expectations as to how the fulfillment of such a vision would not only build us up but would also greatly impact the kingdom of God for His glory.
2) The second step is always the most painful step–God puts that vision to death. We are often left hurt, bewildered, and somewhat frustrated. It is at this point that God necessarily has to put to death our natural way of thinking and our noble attempts to accomplish in the flesh what only God can accomplish by His spirit. It is at this point where the saint must learn to rest in the Lord and trust God’s heart, and it is at this step that, unfortunately, many saints toss in the towel and give up, rather than adopt the attitude that God seeks, namely to accept that if this vision is ever going to be fulfilled, only God can do it.
3) The third step is what you might expect–After we have been made to “get out of the way,” God supernaturally brings about that vision which He birthed in us, but He does so in a manner in which He gets the glory–not us!
This sequence of 1) Birth of a vision, 2) Death of a vision, and 3) Resurrection of a vision, is all part of learning what, I believe, are the “ways of God.” Be encouraged Charlotte, and continue to trust the Lord to accomplish what is His perfect will in your life–and do it in a way that will unquestionably glorify Him and build you up in your faith. (I can’t wait to learn about the next chapter He’s writing in your life. Keep us posted, OK?) God bless.”
Take care,
Brian Luton
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Copyright © 2021 by Charlotte D. Hunt All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or otherwise without written permission from the author except for brief quotations in printed reviews.
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