Willing – (finally)
A smile always comes to my face when I hear “you learn fast”. It happened again last week and I felt great inside. But I’m not always quick to pick things up.
I realized something just this week that I wish I’d figured out months ago. I’ve known and have told others now and then over the years, “Perhaps God is using this discomfort to make you willing to do “xyx”, have you considered that possibility?”
Apparently it’s easier to apply to other people than it is to myself. I’ve spent tons of energy these last 2 1/2 years turning whatever it is at the moment into determination and forward momentum. I’ve deliberately counted my blessings knowing they’ll outnumber my complaints and help me resurface.
But only in these last few days have I (finally) realized God knew how uncomfortable he’d have to make me (and how abruptly) for to leave what I enjoyed so much, and that only when it was irreversibly behind me could He could introduce this new concept to me.
Reminiscing on Father’s Day in the quietness of my own thoughts, I remembered my Dad’s guitar and mandolin, how he enjoyed playing and singing with his brothers (we’re talking about a few years back, I know). The duo that prompted Jack and Dad to buy a mandolin and guitar for themselves, Paul Levin and Bob Findley, sang and preached around the country when Dad and Jack were younger. Dad and Jack decided to buy instruments from a pawn shop and try their hand at it.
One of the songs I remembered Dad singing, always with a twinkle in his eye, was The Hornet Song. “…He (God) does not compel them to go ‘gainst their will, He just makes them willing to go.”
I looked up the song and listened to it (the original was either a 78 or 33 rpm LP).
Sure enough.
God loosed some hornets in my office back in November of 2013.
Looking back, I suppose He had to, or I’d never have been willing to leave the place where I thought I’d finish life.
Go. Move.
Start over.
Discover and develop something entirely new.
It worked.
This writing for non-profit Executive Directors that I’m doing now wouldn’t have been possible had I stayed where I was.
He didn’t make me go against my will, but He sure knew how to make me willing to go!
When the Canaanites hardened their hearts against God
And grieved Him because of their sin,
God sent along hornets to bring them to time,
And help His own people to win.The hornets persuaded them that it was best,
To go quickly, and not to go slow;
God did not compel them to go ‘gainst their will,
But He just made them willing to go.Chorus
He does not compel us to go, No! No!
He does not compel us to go.
He does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will
But He just makes us willing to go.If a nest of live hornets were brought to this room
And the creatures allowed to go free,
You would not need urgings to make yourself scarce,
You’d want to get out, don’t you see.
They would not lay hold and by force of their strength
Throw you out of the window, Oh No,!
They would not compel you’ to go ‘gainst your will,
But they’d just make you willing to go.Chorus
When Jonah was sent to the work of the Lord,
The outlook was not very bright;
He never had done such a hard thing before,
So he backed and ran off from the fight.
But God sent a big fish to swallow him up,
The story I’m sure you all know;
He did not compel him to go ‘gainst his will,
But He just made him willing to go.Chorus
When Moses was sent to lead Israel out,
To Canaan’s rich fruit-bearing land.
Resisting His Spirit they worshiped a calf,
But refused to obey God’s Command.
God did not compel them to go to the land,
Which with wine, milk, and honey did flow,
But fed them on manna for forty long years,
‘Till He got them all ready to go.Chorus
When Balaam was sent to the Moabite king,
And wanted things run his own way,
His mule, ever faithful, spoke at the right time,
Made him willing God’s Will to obey.
God can use any man, since He used Balaam’s mule,
For He is Almighty you know;
He does not compel us to go ‘gainst our will
But He just makes us willing to go.Chorus
