About 6 years ago I felt God calling me to lead a Women's Bible Study so I talked with one of my pastors about starting one in my church. I was told that wasn’t something they were wanting to do right then. I took that as God saying, "Not yet, Jen. Someday though." So I waited.
A couple years ago a Women's Bible Study was started at that church and I wasn’t asked to be involved in the planning. I went to that pastor and asked why, if I had a passion for Women's Ministry, I wasn't part of leading or planning. I was basically told that I wasn't qualified to lead in Women's Ministry but no reason behind his assessment.
Wow! That seemed so contrary to what I felt God nudging in me, calling me to. Why did God place this desire in my heart if I wasn't going to be able to use it in my church? I cried out to God asking for answers, for direction. My heart knew what He was calling me to, but I didn't know how it was going to work out.
"Not getting those opportunities sooner were not God's way of KEEPING me from my calling; they were His way of PREPARING me for it….Becoming more than a good Bible study girl means waiting for God's timing, waiting for the good He is working in us. And when we're ready to move forward, becoming a good Bible study girl means remembering to help those coming along just behind us. This ensures that our calling is not just about us." (page 190)
It wasn't but a few weeks after my pastor told me, in essence, that I wasn't qualified that my friend, Jennifer asked me to consider being a small group leader here at Proverbs 31 OBS. I prayed about it and God opened doors WIDE open for me to step into this role.
God wasn’t telling me "No" for all those years. He was setting the stage for me to be here - with the ladies of Group 61. :D
DISCUSSION: What is God asking you to wait on, to be patient as He works?