Do I play chess? NO! My
husband does!
I tried to learn this game
early in our relationship to understand his joy in playing this game. I discovered
that my neurons where not wired for such an intellectual brain-draining
confrontation. I find it challenging but time consuming, so quiet and so slow.
I would rather read!
But, I learned to appreciate
this game when God taught us a wonderful lesson in life.
Have you ever come to a place
in your life and ministry that you felt successful and fulfilled? Have you ever
felt that God has been so good that in the next few years you plan to retire
and hand down the baton to upcoming leaders in your church or organization? And
when you feel fulfilled and at peace then a sudden change of events totally rocked
your world, left you devastated, with a ruined integrity, no ministry, in pain
and so confused? Well… you’re not alone!
We walked that road too!
It was during these painful
times that God comforted us with a vision of the chess board.
God is the Great Chess Grand Master! We are the pieces on the chess
board. He knows each one of us so perfectly well. He designed us and gave us
character. He knows our strength and weakness. He knows our limitations. We cannot move on our own, He is the only
One that positions us to the specific space He desires.
God has the right to make the move. We
often forget that God is the Owner of everything that includes our lives, our
church and our ministry. Never did God give the ownership to man. We are mandated
to be simply faithful stewards of all that He entrusted to us. Therefore, like
the chess pieces, He has every right to deploy us to the best place suited for His
purpose.
Being rooted
out of our comfort zone, our square of influence is difficult. At times we are
sacrificed for the win. Many times we don’t understand His move, but in His perfect
time, He proves to us that the move is essential for the building of the
Christ-like character in us.
God always move for the win! God is in control of everything. Each
move He makes is for the win. God has already written it in His book, each
move, each step. At every move He makes, it may be a painful or a joyful, but
God is already the Winner! We must have the faith to believe!
Yes, there are situations that
the Lord uproots us from our comfortable ministry or workplace and we experience
frustration, devastation and at times humiliation. But in such times like these
God uses illustration like the chess board for us to clearly understand His
very purpose.
Therefore, let us align
ourselves with what God is doing. He knows what is best for our lives, our
family and our ministry. At the very beginning of our move, God softly
encouraged us, “It is my will for you
to be sanctified. I am preparing you for a new vision and a new purpose.” His words strengthened us to stand on His
promises and rest in Him alone!
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