Benched, Sidelined, Shelved

Professional Sports Teams have more players than are needed for the game. This is true for every team sport whether ice hockey, base ball, rugby, succor, cricket, basket ball or the grid iron. As many players stand on the side line as those that are playing waiting for the coach to call their names if and when they are needed. Although fully trained, equipped and ready to go, many seldom see action on the field. Some are dismissed entirely. Terms like “benched, sidelined and shelved” are terms that describe such a state.

Are you trained, fully dressed and ready to be deployed but you find yourself sitting on the side line? Do you see your contribution as unwanted and having little value? After being fired from his position at a large church, the pastor lamented, “The Lord knows my heart. He knows my willingness to serve Him. He also knows where I am at and He can come and fetch me any time He chooses!” He was benched from active ministry for several years. During this time the Lord qualified him for a position that out shined his former ministry like the noonday sun out shines the faint flickering of a distant candle.

The Scriptures are replete with examples of people that were sidelined, benched and shelved. After being qualified in the courts of Pharaoh, Moses was set aside for forty years. Abraham and Sara were sidelined well into old age before God used them. David spent multiplied days in the Judean hillside caves hiding for his life. Elijah and John the Baptist wandered through the deserts. And then … and then there is you sitting on your bench … waiting.

Hebrews chapter eleven has an impressive list of names in the Faith Hall of Fame. Their victories electrify us. Moses led Israel across the Red Sea; Joshua witnessed Jericho’s walls fall; Rahab was a safe place for the Hebrew spies; “and what shall I more say … of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again…” These are the heroes in God’s Super Bowl or World Cup of victory. But there are more! The display of winners continues. “Others were tortured not accepting deliverance … others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging; were placed in bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented… they wandered in deserts, mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. These all obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.”

When the enemy assaults by telling you that you are an old dinosaur and that your usefulness is over, benched, sidelined, retrenched or “whatever”, remind him that you are not a fossil yet! And as long as you roam this Earth it will reverberate with the footsteps of one that is influencing it for the Kingdom of God!

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

WOW These are WordsOfWisdom we can live by!

A Forced Smile On A Bursdened Face

Most people search for happiness in things and security and health and relationships. These are important to wellbeing. I know that happiness is a choice so I make a quality decision to display a happy disposition in the midst of each trial. The choice of happiness results in emotional stability, physical health and meaningful relationships. Furthermore it displays obedience to God’s command to “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Happiness is the chief ingredient for wellbeing and it works ,,, most of the time. However, I tire in my dogged determination to put a smile on a face that is preoccupied with the problems.

Happiness by sheer determination during persistent conflict is a difficult up-hill battle. I am tired of problem-solving; being responsible to keep things going; meeting deadlines; keeping everyone happy and having to have the answer for every one’s problems. I feel like yelling “Enough Already! Enogh es enough!” How can I put a smile on my tormented face? Is there no reprieve from my trouble? Is there no lessening of the trials that I endure? It was Solomon who said,”hope deferred makes the heart sick!” (Proverbs 13:12) Right now my heart is sick and my happy disposition is only a manufactured front. This kind of “happiness” is not genuine. It is a self-deceiving façade.

God promised that my life should be a “joy unspeakable and full of glory!” (1 Peter 1:8) Then where is my joy? Where do I error? My mistake is found in the source where I seek to find my happiness. Surely happiness is not found in the abundance of things or the absence of problems. If that were true happiness would be impossible because the world is in a chaotic mess. Jesus said that “In this world you shall have tribulation!” (John 16:33) Then He added “but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Genuine happiness does not come with the absence of trail but with the presence of Jesus. He made this clear when he chided the murmuring Pharisees, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive….” (John 7:37-39)

There is a well-spring of peace and happiness deep within the inner recesses of our beings that transcends every human trail. It bubbles with spontaneous peace that spills over as a natural consequence of God’s presence. It satisfies the longing soul and it influence all those that may come in contact with us. That is what Jesus meant when he said “out of your belly shall flow rivers of living waters!” (John 7:38-39) An old hymn expresses this well. “I’ve discovered the way of gladness. I’ve discovered the way of joy. I’ve discovered relief from sadness. It’s happiness without alloy. I’ve discovered the fount of blessing. I’ve discovered the Living Word. It’s the greatest of all discoveries … when I found Jesus my Lord!” True happiness is found in the secret place of His presence.

Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8)

WOW These are WordsOfWisdom we can live by!