Flowers, Potential & The Crushing Weight of Ought
“The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” – Song of Solomon 2:12.
The Lord provides rain to fill the flowers of the field, sun to grow them and wind to strengthen them. They bloom and turn their faces toward heaven. Those beautiful blooms are content being what God created them to be.
A chef’s knife can be used to scrape a barbecue grill, open mail and trim a hedge. While an expensive piece of cutlery may have the potential to serve those purposes, I think we can agree that it is neither the best tool for the job, nor the best use of the knife. Using a knife in ways it isn’t intended to be used will dull the blade—a sad condition for a tool designed to be sharp.
Like a knife, if we chase after all of the areas where we exhibit potential, we may not ever accomplish what God has for us, because we are spread too thin and become dull. When we are not truly honed in—sharp and used for tasks to which we are best suited—we will become exhausted, discouraged and ineffective.
Potential can actually be the enemy of our calling, if we allow it to distract us from our purpose.
And while it is wonderful to give encouragement for a job well done, we need to be exquisitely careful to not put a burden of obligation on the person’s shoulders in the process.
Have you ever received a “words of encouragement” from a well-meaning person, but you walked away from the conversation feeling a burden on your shoulders? They may say, “I see you have a gift of _____. You should consider ______. Or “You have an amazing potential of _____ why don’t you...” Those words heap a weight obligation upon another’s shoulders, potentially sending them in a direction that is not of God’s design.
“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” – John 12:26
The Lord called flowers to be flowers. What has He called YOU to be?
Are you exhausted by using the potential of your knife doing many things, but doing work that is not the best fit for you? Is it time to step back from striving to fulfill your many potentials, in order to pursue your actual calling?
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” – Hebrews 6:10.
Father, we come before You. Like flowers, You have provided us with all we need to be who You created us to be. (Phil 4:19). Help us to not chase after our many areas of potential, and in so doing exhaust ourselves. Instead, teach us to pursue our calling, and find joy, rest and satisfaction in it.
May we shed what we CAN do, to bloom and bear fruit in what You CREATED us to do.
Refresh us with Your living water. Shine upon us, so we give forth fragrance and beauty. Then send the wind of Your Spirit to strengthen our roots and scatter our seeds.
Teach us to constrain our tongues, to encourage and bless without putting a crushing burden of ought on others. May we plant and water seeds, but not serve as stumbling blocks to Your plan. And may we find joy in being all You created us to be. In Jesus’ Name ❤️
Beloved, is it time to adjust your To-Do list? If you are uncertain about your calling, ask the Father. He will reveal it in His perfect time!💡
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