The process by which God shapes His servants is one of the most amazing to witness. It’s incredible how wonderfully wise and loving He is. It’s only when we look back that we realize how little we understood of the process of our own growth. Let’s compare how He worked in shaping two very different servants.

Peter:

He came to Jesus empty-handed, unschooled and artless, with no skills or abilities to boast of (even his ability to fish wasn’t even all that reliable, see Luke 5). God gave him everything he needed to serve. Through the Holy Spirit, God gave Peter the courage to stand and the eloquence to move thousands through speech (Acts 2).

Paul:

He came to Jesus with his hands full of earthly gifts. He had the best schooling, high status, and power among the Jews. God took away everything he had so he could realize what was of true worth—the knowledge of Jesus—and thus make huge sacrifices for service. By the end of his life, Paul boasted only of his own weakness (2 Cor 11:30).

Today, God works similarly in our lives, taking away and giving to us so that He can shape and help us to become mature in our faith. For example, we may find ourselves assigned to do something for Him that we feel we aren’t qualified for, making us rely on Him to give us the abilities and talents we need to complete the task (e.g. Moses). Or, we lose something significant (a job, an educational opportunity, our health, etc.), only to find that we have gained something bigger—such as an understanding of His will, the lesson of submission, or spiritual growth (e.g. Joseph).

As we go on in our spiritual journey, we need to trust in the goodness of His will and the wisdom of His way, for “He who has begun a good work in [us] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6). So whatever trials come during our servitude, let us not lose heart or grow weary. Instead, let us say:

            But now, O Lord, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
(Isa 64:8)

Questions for Reflection

1.      What is something that God has given you to help you serve Him?

2.      What is something that God has taken away?

3.      How have these molded you or impacted the way that you serve Him?