Useful Weakness

Thinking today about how God trains his servants, and about the fact that God is not in the slightest bit of a rush to get it done. He will not use an instrument that isn't ready. David was over 30 years old before he became King. Joshua was probably in his sixties before he was made the General of the Army of Israel. Moses was in his 80's. The training for each one is unique and distinctive. God does not have a formula or a stated curriculum. He is simply at work to make an instrument useful.

I think we get the false impression that God is always in a bind , and in some sort desperate need for somebody - anybody - who will be on his team. God does not fill positions the way churches often do. A warm body simply will not do. God will prepare his servant, and until the servant is prepared, she or he is worthless.

Cheesecake is the Birthday staple for my wife. I baked her one on Tuesday. Cheesecake must be baked for a long time at a low temperature. It will do absolutely no good to bake a cheesecake for a shorter time at a higher temperature. That will not work. It would end up like some sort gourmet beetle: Crunchy on the outside, nauseatingly soft in the center. It takes time to be prepared - and God has time and is not concerned about whether or not we are in a hurry. He will bring us each to a place of greater usefulness by bringing us to a place of utter weakness. Hudson Taylor says that "God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him."

Sometimes it takes time to figure out how weak we really are. He will use us when we're ready to be used: not before.