The Case for Space
As we continue our hopes and dreams for ministry at The Lookout, I often wonder how to communicate the need for s p a c e in our lives. With that said, I haven’t always done a good job of finding the spaces where God could reveal Himself in new, different, peaceful, challenging, encouraging, reminding…HOPEFUL ways!
Check this out from Genesis 26:21-22 NLT
Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
There are two things I hope you will see in this short Scripture. If you read the context, you will find a struggle going on and Isaac trying to find enough room for his family and flocks to prosper. So first, we see that Isaac’s men dug a well (vital for survival) and the local people fought them over it…so they moved on from this place of hostility. The second thing to note is that they dug again (didn’t quit, didn’t give up) and when they found water, there was no struggle, no hostility, and God was glorified as giving them ‘enough space for them to prosper in the land.’
When we are confronted by hostile situations, we can become so focused on the circumstance that we lose sight of what God is inviting us to do. Even if we are invited to stay in the hostile space or place, God invites us to come away and renew our heart and vision and find His hope for better days ahead. Other times, God may be inviting us to a broader space – a space where we can prosper. Again, we must be purposeful in creating the s p a c e in our lives to hear what God is saying. This is an act of the will, an act borne out of our desire to meet with God and hear what is on His heart for the season we are in.
I think I hear you saying, ‘That sounds great, Bill, but you really don’t know what I am facing.’ You are right!! Even though I don’t know your exact situation, may I suggest a few s p a c e ideas for you to try?
I have been listening to an audio book from John Eldredge, Get Your Life Back: Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad. This phrase from the book keeps ringing in my ears: ‘Jesus – I give everyone and everything to you.’ Would you purposely spend time giving everything and everyone to God?
Get outside – notice God’s creation around you. Take enough time to really ‘see’ what God has created. I remember when we were in Nome, I loved walking on the tundra and seeing the beautiful and tiny flowers that carpeted the ground. I thought, ‘These are amazing! How many people walk on by, or just never take a moment to see what God has created here?’ So, what is around you that if you pause and take a different look – where would you see the glory of God’s creation around you?
Now, one last idea for you. This comes from our dream for The Lookout. I sincerely hope that God will bring leaders and friends who will take in the view from our back deck and ‘look out’ over their lives to see God’s faithful work in their lives. (the view is beautiful and ever changing!) Recognize His faithfulness when there were hostile situations, and then to recognize where God has created enough space for us to prosper in the land….and in the midst of ‘looking out’ to very purposely say to Him, ‘Jesus – I give everyone and everything to you.’ Followed by, ‘I give myself to you, Jesus, for union with you. I give everything in me for union with you, Lord. I need more of you, God. Fill me with more of you.’ (from the One Minute Pause app by John Eldredge)
And then, after spending time in this s p a c e with God, return to the places and spaces where God has planted us to continue the good work God has given us to do. May you find space today.
