Use What Is Already in Your Hand

It is interesting that when people ultimately discover what God has called them to do, often they look back and see that God had placed many things in their lives early on to prepare them for their calling. It might have been a natural talent or ability. It might have been certain interests. It may have been people who influenced them in the direction of their calling, even if they didn’t recognise it at the time. It may have been an event or an experience that propelled them toward the plans God had for them. One thing is certain: God always prepares us for the things He has in store for us.

When God called Moses to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt, Moses was thoroughly overwhelmed. His mind was filled with questions, and he could not even imagine how he would begin to accomplish such a feat. He began to bombard God with questions, concerns, and objections, but God did not say, “Don’t worry, Moses. This is what I’m going to do. First, I’m going to turn the waters of the Nile into blood. Then I’ll send a plague of frogs followed by a plague of lice followed by a plague of flies. Then I’ll kill the livestock, send boils, hail and locusts, then follow that up with darkness and death of the firstborn. Once you’re out of Egypt, I’ll part the Red Sea and lead you through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.” I’m sure such a detailed revelation of God’s plan would have been a great comfort to Moses. Instead when Moses asked all his frantic questions about how God would deliver His people, God responded with a question of His own. “Moses, what is in your hand?” And Moses replied, “A rod.”

Think for a minute about the absurdity of what God was asking Moses to do. He was sending this fugitive vagabond into the most powerful empire in the world to deliver His people. And all Moses had as ammunition was a stick! Through the whole Exodus saga— all the miracles, wonders, and epic, world-changing exploits—Moses had nothing more in his hand than a stick! But when Moses did what he knew to do, when he used what was in his hand, the rest of the story began to unfold, each event triggering the next like a succession of dominoes leading all the way to the Promised Land.

Take an inventory of your life today to see what is in your hand right now. It may be people, relationships, interests, opportunities, thoughts, or dreams. Chances are that the seeds of your future have already been sown into the soil of your life. Ask God to give you the wisdom to discern them; then have the diligence to water them and the patience to wait for the harvest.

Help Others Fulfill Their God-Given Vision

While you’re waiting for God to bring about the fulfillment of your vision, or even if you don’t yet know what God is calling you to do, put the law of sowing and reaping to work for you. Find someone else who has a vision from the Lord and invest into that person’s vision as if it were your own. Volunteer your time, energy, and resources to push someone else forward. You will find that as you sow into someone else’s vision, you will soon reap a vision of your own.