“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,
A time to be born, a time to die . . .
A time to break down, and a time to build up
A time to weep and a time to laugh
A time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1-4).
Now, I’m not adding to God’s Word to evoke the plagues written in the book of Revelation upon myself, but I often think of other “times” we experience in our lives. Right now I’m dealing with “A time to be used, and a time to wait.” I’m having trouble with this because I’m a doer and I don’t like to sit and wait for the right season to accomplish something. I want to do it my way and in my time. But here I sit . . . like I’ve been put on a shelf.
While complaining about this shelf sitting, the Lord brought to my attention the decorative plates, bowls and kitchenware I’ve bought. I don’t use them often—I bought them because I thought they were pretty. When I moved into a new home after years of living in small townhouses where all but the most useful items were kept in storage, I was delighted to unpack some of my pretties. I was trying to decide what to do with them when I came up with the idea of displaying them in my cabinets. They may not be out in the open to be seen by others, but I could see them every time I opened my cabinets.
With great care and creativity I stood up some decorative plates behind the white everyday plates, added a few decorative bowls among the mismatched bowls we use, as well lined up some colorful decorative bottles along the unreachable top shelf. I took a beautiful hand-painted cake plate that was a wedding gift to my parents and leaned it just so, allowing me a glance at it each time the cabinet doors open.
And there they sit, my seldom-used favorites, sittin’ pretty for me to see and enjoy. They’re being used after all, just in a different way than originally intended. And, at just the right time, when friends and loved ones are in my kitchen and they open one of my cabinet doors, they too will see my treasures.
I had to be reminded of this when I began whining and questioning God from the discontent place in my heart. “Lord, why am I still sitting on this shelf? Don’t you think it’s time for me to do something for You?”
The Lord spoke softly to my Spirit and told me that I’ve been looking at this season wrong. I’m not sitting on a shelf unused, but with great care and creativity I’ve been placed in a strategic spot for Him to see and enjoy. Solomon was right when he wrote, “To e
verything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” My purpose is to glorify God—give Him pleasure in my love and obedience whether I’m busy serving Him or not.
Now I can wait on God with a new understanding of this season and I’m content to be on display for my Master. He has a purpose and the perfect time for me to be used and it will be in His timing. Until then, you will find me. . . shelf sitting for His glory.
Photos by Beth K. Fortune
Post first appeared on www.christiancommunicators.com 1/22/14.
