The Uncomfortable Calling of God

Good day all, blessings, The Word of the Lord for today is: The Uncomfortable Calling of God.

I often share that there are three callings that we can receive. The call of salvation, where God called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

The call to serve. We are all called to serve in some capacity of ministry, because the greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 20:27)

Last but not least, the call to ministry—to serve, preach, and teach the Gospel of the Kingdom, where many are called but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14 and Ephesians 4:1-11)

Being called of God and doing a great work for the Lord is a wonderful thing, but it often involves much sacrifice, service, and sometimes pain.

One of the things I have found in 32 years of salvation in Christ, and 59 years on this earth, is that when God has purpose for your life, it is never comfortable! As a matter of fact, it is often uncomfortable!

Because everything nice in life has a price and a sacrifice!

I heard a well-known Pastor in Texas say something so profound; In this season of serving God, you will be sharpened and stretched!

It was so profound, because a pencil must be placed in a pencil sharpener and ground with blades, in order to sharpen it to be used effectively.

No one likes to use a dull pencil, and God cannot use a dull person. You must be sharpened.

As a writer of books and even as an artist, a sharp pencil is exactly what you need!

A rubber band often has to be pulled and stretched to be able to use and hold things together as well.

Sometimes people like to buy clothes that have that stretch effect because they don’t like tight clothes!

Even during childbirth, women know the importance of being stretched to give birth to a baby! Can I get a witness from the women?

I would also add that you will often be shaken and pressed!

The smoothie or shake must be shaken and blended so the fruit and other contents will be cut up and mixed together to get a good tasty drink. Sometimes we feel like we are being shaken to our core and cut up, but it’s for a reason!

The olive must be pressed to get the pure olive oil out of it. Ask the Lord Jesus who was in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Gethsemane literally means “oil press.” Matthew 26:36-38

Jesus was pressed beyond measure before he went to the cross and said in Matthew 26:38 , Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 

I said all that to say this:
When God is calling and perfecting us for purpose, we will often be sharpened, stretched, shaken and pressed!

The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17, Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

The Bible also says in Hebrews 12:27, And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

You will never be all that God has called you to be without being sharpened, stretched, shaken, and pressed beyond measure.

Many of us are in that season right now and don’t even know it. You think that nothing is going good for you, people are against you, or God has forsaken you, but it is quite the contrary!

Let me share a testimony!

I can recall when I was young, all the young men and men would go to South Central Park in Louisville, to play basketball .

There was a man named Big Gene who was at least 6’6 or taller. I was only about 5’8 at the time.

He would always mess with me and check me while playing. He would oftentimes berate me, push me, block my shot, and say you don’t got game, or you can’t play! I would go home mad with tears!

As a result, I would go to the park alone and shoot to get better. I didn’t give up. I didn’t stop going to the park where Big Gene was. As a matter of fact, I got better.

So, when we went to the park one day, he would check me and I would score on him and talk noise.. Lol..

Later on, when I was a Senior in High school, I didn’t know, but Big Gene thought I had potential and wanted to toughen me up to get better.

He told me later in life after he saw my name in the paper for excelling in track and field, and being among the top long jumpers in the state at that time at 23 1/2 feet!

Big Gene has passed on now. Shout out to Big Gene with much love, and I will always remember the toughness he showed me.

I didn’t go to college for basketball or track, I went to the military, and those years of toughness prepared me to excel and do well in the military.

I often think about Big Gene’s toughness in my life because when I got to the military, I was top notch in physical fitness, leading athletics in boot camp, and later on leading Physical Fitness for the Navy Element personnel at Special Operations Command, and other Navy commands.

I said all this for a reason: whatever you go through in life, God may be using situations, circumstances, and people to sharpen, stretch, shake, and press you into purpose.

God Almighty is unlimited in His ability to use whatever tools He has to prepare you for purpose in Him!

Sometimes we think people are against us when really they see greatness in us! Not only that, but more importantly, they desire to make us, not break us!

So dry your eyes, shrug your shoulders, lift up your head, and know that God called you to win not lose, to succeed not fail, and to overcome and get the victory, not give up!

So, today, endure hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and keep the faith! Because there is GREATEST in you to fulfill the calling on your life.

God bless,
Pastor Quinn