Gospel.com Blog

Are you so wrapped up in the “schedule” of your life, work, and ministry that you risk missing the unexpected opportunities God sends your way?

Blaine Smith describes following God’s timing as one of the great challenges of the Christian life. It’s easy for us to get so focused on what we think God has planned for us, that we aren’t prepared to take advantage of unplanned ministry openings. He points to Jesus’ ministry as an example of a life lived in accordance with God’s timing:

Much of Jesus ministry was a sanctified response to interruptions. Take a typical day: After teaching a large crowd for a long time, he breaks for time alone, only to have his disciples ask him to explain his parables (Mk 4:10). That evening, while traveling in a boat, they awake him to deal with an unruly storm (Mk 4:38), and when they arrive at the other side of the lake, Jesus is confronted by a man with multiple demons (Mk 5:1-13). In each of these cases, Jesus responds immediately to those who need his help.

Many opportunities, both for serving Christ and for experiencing his provision for our own needs, come packaged in unwelcome interruptions. We need to pray constantly for alertness to these openings when they confront us. Without such awareness, were likely to lag behind Gods timing.

Is there an “interruption” knocking at your door right now, threatening to divert you from the careful plan you’ve set for yourself? It’s worth asking yourself if it’s truly a diversion, or if God is presenting you with an unexpected opportunity to serve Him.

Have you heard of the “turtle on a fencepost” saying? It goes like this: if you’re walking along a fence and spot a turtle sitting atop a fencepost, you know it didn’t get there by itself.”

The phrase has been used as a joke aimed at politicians. But twice in the last few weeks I’ve seen it repurposed as a religious parable, once in Mary Russell’s novel The Sparrow and now in Chuck Colson’s Day by Day daily devotional. Given a spiritual slant, the “turtle on a fencepost” didn’t get into its predicament by accident; somebody put it there—and likewise, when we find ourselves in unexpected, fortuitous, or strange life circumstances, we should understand that we’re there not of our own design, but because God has placed us there for a purpose:

The Bible is chock-full of turtles: one person after another who knew that his or her position of power, authority, or promotion was given by Another.

Joseph was a turtle. How often, in his Egyptian chariot or his opulent surroundings, he must have sat back, closed his eyes, and reflected on his humble beginnings. His jealous brothers. The pit. Slavery. Prison. Now this! What an incredible fence post! How faithful of God . . . how gracious!

….The next time we are tempted to think we’re self-appointed fence-post sitters, I recommend the prophet’s counsel: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug” (Isa. 51:1).

Being put on a “fence post” is a wonderful opportunity and a reassuring sign that God has a plan for us. But we should view any such situation from a perspective of humble gratitude—after all, we’re not the ones who put ourselves there.

Are you sitting on a fence post right now, faced with a sudden turn of good fortune or an unexpected opportunity? Take time to consider why God might have placed you there, and how you can use this opportunity to serve God before you are once again placed back on the ground.

Has God ever closed the door on an opportunity in your life? Maybe you don’t get the job you were hoping for, or a relationship doesn’t pan out the way you wanted. When Christians run into frustrations or obstacles, we often interpret those difficulties as a sign from God that this isn’t His will for us.

That may indeed be the case. But as this devotional from Nehemiah Ministries points out, sometimes we’re a little too quick to conclude that God is telling us “no”:

Scripture abounds with examples of those who found open doors at points when many would have concluded they were bolted shut. As we read through the Bible, we find numerous instances where individuals reached important horizons late in life, or after repeated tries, or in spite of extreme obstacles. Sarah conceives a child when both she and Abraham are elderly, and a number of years later Abraham remarries after Sarah dies. Isaac’s servants dig a well successfully after two major thwarted attempts. Joseph realizes his dream of leadership after years of servitude and imprisonment. Moses becomes a champion of his people forty years after his first passionate attempt utterly fails. David becomes king of Israel in spite of severe ridicule from his brothers, apathy from his father, and numerous battles with Saul’s forces. Hannah gives birth to many children long after her husband has accepted her barrenness and encouraged her to do the same. Ruth finds joy in a new marriage after her first husband dies; and Naomi, bereft of her husband and both sons, finds unexpected solace in a grandchild born to Ruth. Zechariah and Elizabeth are blessed with a child in their old age, and the angel declares that this gift is in response to their longstanding prayer.

It isn’t easy to determine whether a frustration is an obstacle we are meant to overcome, or a “closed door” from God—but the devotional goes on to talk about how to discern each situation.

Has this happened to you recently? Was the obstacle you encountered a test of faith to be endured, or was it a prompt from God to focus your attention elsewhere?