“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Please bear with me as I use well-known Disney princess to illustrate a point. Cinderella is well known for having a magical makeover. Part of the ensemble was a glass slipper perfectly made for her. No other woman could fit the slipper just right, and depending on which version you read, some women went to great lengths to fit that slipper.
Presently, I feel spiritually as if I picked up Cinderella’s slipper, placed it on my foot, felt some discomfort and limped around in it and realized, it’s not my slipper.
God is sovereign which means He knows all things, sees all things, and has power over all things. In His ultimate wisdom, I think sometimes He allows us to reach for and attain the glass slipper, that thing we think it the ultimate goal for our lives, so that He can gently and kindly say, “See, I told you so. Now, will you trust me and follow me to better places?” And lead us to the place He has designed to be the right fit for us.
Two images keep coming back to my mind. A barren mountain top and a lush, steamy, green rainforest. The mountain top is the place we think we’re supposed to be. But the mountain top is deprived of all people, plants and animals whereas the rainforest has undiscovered people groups, plants, and animals, and this place represents the area we didn’t see ourselves, but that is also mission field.
It’s almost as if my sovereign, loving Father is saying, “Okay, we know this small portion of you, but you have much more to give. You know me in this capacity, but I am so much more. Trust me to shepherd you to new pastures where you will discover a new people, a new skill set, and a new territory to glory in my creation and character.”
The Lord tells us not to hide our light under a bushel, not to cast our pearls before pigs, and to shake the dust off our feet if the inhabitants won’t welcome God’s words and work. I love how Corrie and Betsie ten Boom said that God’s masterpiece is like a sewing. What we see is the messy backside, but He sees the beautiful picture from the frontside.
We will never see the whole tapestry this side of heaven. We can rest in assurance that He weaves the thread of our lives with great care and love and intentionality. He orchestrates everything perfectly. If we walk in submission and obedience, oh how many souls will be impacted for the kingdom, including the maturation and development of our own.
I don’t know all the ways God intends to weave my life throughout His masterpiece, but I am thankful that He chose to breathe life into me. I am thankful that although this present glass slipper doesn’t fit me perfectly, there will be the proper owner to claim it. I am grateful too that God is gentle and kind and will reveal a comfortable shoe that fits me comfortably as well.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
