” . . . when obscurity knocks on our door, we should rush to pack our bags. Each day spent out of the limelight moves us one step closer to more effectively casting the limelight on him (the Lord).”- Brian Jones
“Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.”- Ephesians 5:9-10 (NIV)
Brian Jones concludes Chapter 4 of Finding Favor as he asserts that no sane person, given multiple options, chooses the one leading through the valley. Therefore, Pastor Jones posits, sometimes God chooses that route for us. As Philip Yancey said in Finding God in Unexpected Places (2005): “I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”
In addition, Brian asks, what if your life’s true impacts affects someone generations after your death? Would you be content with God’s intent for you not to experience worldly success during your lifetime? For deep down, Pastor Jones suggests, there’s something in us still yearning for worldly validation. As a result, we walk out of one valley only to step into another one.
Thus, when our “fear of being ordinary” maintenance light blinks, we need to learn the following lesson from God. Brian exhorts:
“I think what God is ultimately trying to teach me and you through obscurity is that as long as he calls us his children, we’ll never be simply average. . . . you and I are powerful beyond imagination. We’re successful beyond anything the world can offer. Our every move is followed by countless angelic beings. Jesus has invited us to join him center stage in God’s grand story.”
In conclusion, then, our valley time teaches us that success neither validates our worth nor diminishes the worth of others.
Today’s question: When obscurity knocks on your door, does your witness cast the limelight on the Lord? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “God wants to intervene in your life”
