Nothing is Wasted

I remember writing an essay in elementary school.  As a 6th grader in Billings, MT we naturally studied a good deal of native american history, and we as a class had been assigned essays focusing on different elements in an indians life.  I can no longer remember exactly the topic I was assigned, but I recall writing and being fascinated by the fact that the indians didn't seem to waste anything.  When a buffalo was killed the pelts were turned to blankets, the meat of course eaten, and even the internal organs were used for various purposes.  Years later I saw a needle that was used for sowing made out of buffalo bone.  Indians were truly masters at using everything at their disposal.

So to it is with God.

One of the reasons that I have confidence in our direction is that I have seen God's coordination of events in our lives.  Several years ago I was quickly and accidentally thrust into leadership of the young adult program (YAM) at our church.  We worked hard at it and it was fairly successful ministry.  At the time I had no idea why I was in the role I found myself in, but years later I sat back and realized that the time I spent with the young adults laid a foundation for the next steps in my life.

Prior to YAM, I had never done public speaking.  As a missionary I soon found myself speaking publicly on many occasions, often drawing on things that I had learned working with the Yammer's.  When we arrived in Hungary and founded our Young Adult and Youth Programs, I drew extensively on my experience from my church.  75% of our program was similar to the program we had run stateside.

Later when I began to work on my MBA, my experience speaking publicly in both YAM and on the fund raising trail helped me excel in my speaking opportunities and develop a decent reputation as a public speaker.

It's so much easier to see God's hand in things when you're looking backwards.  Standing in Hungary looking at the various tasks we had, my leadership in YAM suddenly came into focus.  So many things became obvious.  I could suddenly see how my experiences in Hungary in 1993-94 were a part of our ministry.  I could see how my time in leadership of young adults ministries were not only for those young adults, but helped me know how to work in Hungary.

Today I look back and I realize that the MBA that God led me to in Hungary (answering three fleeces and making it obvious), played into where I am right now.  We are engaged in the questions of leadership and management, personal and professional development of our missionaries, and I realize what the MBA was all about (and I suspect far more than I even realize now).  Had I not gone through that time in my life, I would have been ill prepared and most likely not even working in the capacity that I am now.  How encouraging it is to find areas of your life that you didn't realize were so intentionally placed.  The string through my life continues.

So today, if you find yourself doing something for God that doesn't seem to make much sense or you feel isn't worthwhile.  Hold on, you can't see the big picture now, but in this world, when we yield all to God, Nothing is Wasted.