I have noticed an interesting characteristic in God’s nature that amazes me. It is a mystery beyond our understanding. Here is how it works. You or I will think we have heard from God in some manner – either in prayer, through Scripture reading, a dream, or whatever. You’ll just know you are doing what He wants and you willingly do it. Then you discover that what you are doing was not what He was doing, while you were doing. Oh, He was doing something; only it was better and more profound. He just didn’t tell you about it till after the fact!
Here is an example that is truly wonderful: A few weeks ago I made a trip by plane down to Chiapas, Mexico. I thought the reason for going was for me to train Mexican pastors and other leaders. We had a good four day conference. It went well, and God blessed it. However, it seems the training was only secondary to what was on the Holy Spirit’s mind. While there I met some orphans from a nearby orphanage. They came by to sing at our conference. I met some really great kids. Two of them are a part of this intriguing story. One little guy is 11 years old. His eyes need surgery and I was touched to do something about it. I also met a 17 year old orphan who must leave the orphanage, because he has finished high school and he must leave…but he had no place to go and no skills to work.
During our conference, Solo, the 17 year old, shared his life story with our pastors. It was so sad we were brought to tears-all of us. Among the group, were some guys from Yucatan, who volunteered to take Solo home with them to give him work on their farm. He went with them.
Now, back to the boy needing eye surgery. When I returned home, I called a missionary friend and asked if he knew where the lad could get free corrective surgery in Mexico. He did know and set it up last week.
Here’s where the “what God was doing” part comes in. The boy was carried to an American sponsored medical center in Veracus, Mexico. While he was there, it was discovered that this medical center is also a seminary for Mexican youth who cannot afford other schooling. The orphanage director who took the 11 year old for surgery, was thinking of Solo (who feels called to the ministry), so the director asked if Solo could go to school there. Amazingly, they offered him a four year, all expenses paid scholarship! So, the boy will get his eyes corrected, and the world will get an orphan turned preacher!
All this came to pass because we went to Mexico to teach a few pastors. So you see, what we are doing is not always what God is really doing thru our faithfulness. His ways are “inscrutable,” they are beyond us, ahead of us, for us. Look around you…what is He doing while you are doing?
