Don't Crack the Egg!


There is some debate about helping a chick crack the egg at hatching time.  However, many say that a part of the process of the chick's health is getting out on it's own.  I don't know a lot about chickens but I do know that you can do too much for people in their walk with God. There are so many processes and so many transitions to be maneuvered that struggling is a part of spiritual health.  As care givers we want desperately to help people (especially those closest to us) avoid discomfort and pain.  Yet the present struggle may be the preparation for future victory.  Our help today could be a preparation for failure in the future.  That is why it is so important for us to pray and hear from God and not just do what "we think is a good thing to do."


This same thought carries to trying to help people "into ministry".  If there is a true Call of God upon a person's life, that call is an internal fire and motivation that for the most part needs to be a solitary struggle between the one being called and the One doing the calling.  As we look at Scripture, from Moses to the Apostle Paul, man did little in the process.  Once the call was embraced then help came to assist them on their ministry journey. We can help in training and oversight by way of support, prayer and encouragement but we must remember that solitude is a major part of preparation for ministry.  The Lord in his love allows the dark night of the soul to occur in order to make sure he has prepared a "son of God" and not a "son of man."  Remember, if we do too much to help the chick out during the turmoil of birth he will continue to look for us during the turmoil of life.  This same Apostle Paul who made it through embracing the call later wrote, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:6