While reading Isaiah 49 recently I was deeply impressed by the Holy Spirit by some of the verses that I was reading, especially the first few verses, and I believe it pertained to so many of us who feel they are called by God, but are feeling discouraged, defeated and disillusioned.
Looking at these verses in Isaiah, they are prophetically inspired—announcing the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah—and yet they remain relevant for us in our own lives even today. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we see that all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to help us recognize what’s wrong in our lives, correcting us when we are wrong and teaching us to do what is right. In this instance, the Holy Spirit has impressed on me to draw out and share key truths from these verses to encourage you. So let us look at our first verse in Isaiah 49.
Listen to Me, O islands and coastlands,
And pay attention, you peoples from far away.
The Lord has called Me from the womb.
From the body of My mother, He has named Me.
When Passion Meets Rejection
Very often when we start out our walk with God feeling passionate and on fire for His purposes, we may feel a powerful call from God on our lives to do something great for Him. Sometimes we are not entirely sure what this call means (which is completely fine, at the right time/s God will reveal to you what you need to know). Some have an idea of what it means, and it could be very clear for others – it could be starting a business, a school, a ministry, or writing a book that will change lives.
When we start understanding that we have this call on our lives, it can be a very encouraging and exciting time for us, as we can see in the first verse, even the writer calls out to those near far – announcing the call of God on their lives. And that is exactly
what many of us do when we understand that God is calling us. In our passion and excitement, we announce it our friends, family and leaders. But how often is it that they don’t respond the way they expect? Some simply laugh it off or just don’t see it.
Joseph’s Dreams and the Reality of Rejection
Joseph had 2 dreams in which revealed God’s powerful call on his life. When he shared it with his brothers they responded with hate and mocked him, even his father sharply rebuked him. Almost every person who has a call on their lives will most likely face this kind of responses or rejection from those around them. This kind of rejection can cause many of us to be discouraged and doubt what we have felt from God.
When the Church Doesn’t See Your Calling
And very often, despite rejections and mockery from our friends and family we often believe that those brothers and sisters and leaders within the Body of Christ will understand and respond with joy and encouragement. We feel that the leaders who are watching over us will discern our giftings, use them, celebrate them and help us step into the call of God on our lives, but very often the very opposite happens.
Years ago, I was in a church that was part of a wider church movement, and I was sitting with the apostolic leader of this group in Malaysia on a mission trip (there were a few of us sitting together at restaurant). I was quite new to the church and decided to tag along on the trip, and he was asking me some questions and then he asked me in what area I feel God had called me in. I simply responded in evangelism and discipleship. He openly burst out laughing and said, “OKAY Chrissie!!”, as if it was the most ridiculous and funniest thing he had ever heard. I was stunned, I couldn’t even say anything – it was the very last thing I had expected, and it sat with me for a long time trying to process. For a long time after that, I questioned myself if he is an APOSTLE and he is laughing at my so-called area of calling and ministry – am I just daydreaming or making this stuff up?
God’s Timing Includes Hiding
Over time on many different occasions and with different people and leaders this happened, not all mocking and laughing, but overlooking, ignoring, sarcasm (you’re a woman you must have got it wrong), and it and it took me a long time to understand Isaiah 49:2, that this wasn’t happening by accident, that God was actually hiding and concealing me from certain (majority) of people. Them not recognising our call and gifting is for a purpose. Just like it served a purpose when Joseph shared it with his family and got rejected. If they had seen the call and understood it, would they have rejected him or sold him? Would he have ended up in Egypt and become the 2nd most powerful man on earth, and under his leadership anointed by God – save many from death during a time of famine and drought? If Israel had understood who Jesus truly was, would they have crucified him?
It says in Isaiah 49:2 that he has concealed and hidden us.
He has made My mouth like a sharp sword,
In the shadow of His hand, He has concealed me;
And He has also made Me a sharpened arrow,
He has hidden Me in His quiver.
Overlooked by Man, Handpicked by God
Jesus faced this with his very own people, David wasn’t’ even considered or included in the line up selection of Jesse’s sons for King of Israel, so I ask you why would it be any different for us? Because we sometimes miss this principle and we are not prepared for the rejection, judgement, mocking, gossip and everything that comes along with following God and His call wholeheartedly, we are tempted to completely give up. And it is completely normal to feel frustrated, hurt and discouraged. The preparation for the call and promise of God on our lives is often in quiet, hidden dark places, and so many give up there and go back to “normal”, lacking passion, purpose but at least comfortable and protected from the sometimes-harsh, dark and narrow road it takes to get to where God is leading.
Obedience Doesn’t Always Make Sense
If you continue on your journey following God, He will also call you to do things that most people will not understand. It could be leaving your job, taking another role or job for a much lower pay, cutting out toxic people in your life or ending a relationship that God no longer wants you in. Noah did what God told him to do and he looked ridiculous building a boat in a time when the earth was watered from the ground, Everyone will
have an opinion and point of view about your decisions, actions and beliefs, and I see many shrinking back or deciding against doing what God is impressing on them to keep friends, family, colleagues even church family happy or from judging them, talking about them, or rejecting them.
Whose Voice Are We Listening To?
Remember this – they don’t see what God sees! It is hidden from them! They see only see a physical reality and logic, they cannot see the future, they cannot see what God has created you to be, and what He is preparing for you – so I ask you why do we give them so much power over our lives and our decisions? Isaiah 2:22 says: Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed? Yet very often we esteem the words of those around us more then Gods.
The Hidden Work Is Never in Vain
But I said, “I have laboured in vain,
I have spent My strength for nothing and futility.
Nevertheless, the justice due to Me is with the Lord,
And My reward is with My God.”
In Isaiah 49:4 we see the same type of frustration faced by the writer – this is all in vain! I am doing all of this for nothing, no one sees me, sees what I’m doing; surely, it’s a waste of time. How often have you felt like that? Are you feeling like that now and considering throwing in the towel? I encourage you to take the second part of the verse to heart: NEVERTHELESS (even if all of this is happening), I will get my reward and what is due to me from God. DON’T look at the natural, DON’T listen to people’s opinions, DON’T do anything but only let God’s perspective lead and guide you.
Following God Even When It Feels Like a Dead End
I moved to Dubai many years ago, and I felt God tell me that I would go there and eventually lead and preach. He led me to join a church (which I did), only to find out they were strongly against women leaders and preachers. Leading as a woman would only be in the context of a married couple (I was VERY single – nothing remotely on the horizon in that department), so I was very perplexed and frustrated. Why did God want me to leave my family, my home, and my comfort zone (I really didn’t want to leave my family and country at the time, but I followed God and the doors He opened) to lead and preach, only to tell me to join this church that was completely opposed to it? Nothing made sense. The move and transition were lonely, and I faced a lot of emotional turmoil. But many years later (at least 8 years or so), God changed the hearts of the leaders in that church, and He honoured His promise. I was the first woman to preach to an entire congregation of men and women.
I decided many years ago that I would follow what God tells me, no matter what. (On the other side of that, I have also quit a thousand times along the way—but only by God’s grace did I get up again.) It has often looked pointless, like it doesn’t make sense, and what God is saying is going to happen looks completely impossible. But I have said this to God on a few occasions: I will do what You tell me to do—even if You don’t do what You said You would. It will not be on my account that it doesn’t work. I will at least be able to say before You one day, when I have to give an account, that I did it—and I did my part. As time goes on, though, I have learned that God ALWAYS does what He says He is going to do, even if it’s a long road to get there.
Out of Sight, Not Out of Destiny
When you follow Christ, you will look crazy to many people. They will talk about you, mock you, reject you, ignore you, and gossip about you. But you won’t be hidden forever—God has hidden you only until the right time comes along. And just like David, Joseph, Noah, Jesus (and many more in the Bible), He will reveal you to all those around you.
Be encouraged with this scripture from Psalm 23:5:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
By Christine Greyling
Jrevolution 