Life Out Loud

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By Jesi Steiber—

Sometimes I forget. I get busy going from here to there, caught up in the mundane tasks of the day. My hours at work are variable at best with my thoughts focused on what hours I am working this week and wondering what next week will look like. I spend a minimum of two to three hours a day on school runs as my week is easily overcome by the to-do’s of the day. It’s difficult to find time to myself and often necessary to schedule time for my husband. Life can swirl around and cause me to struggle.

My husband, on the other hand, doesn’t often lose his focus. He has a missionary heart and rarely sways from there. If it were up to him he would be in the jungles preaching to anyone who would listen. He’s never been on a mission trip, but it’s his dream to do so. It’s not unusual to be out shopping and look up as he’s praying over someone he doesn’t know. So on this particular morning, I was surprised by what he had to say when he phoned me after he’d left for work.

“I know our calling” he stated plainly. I sat back in my chair, feeling defeated. I have two good friends who are writing books being published later this year. I have a friend who started a ministry and I’m watching it blossom. I’ve seen friends move in to leadership positions at church, being called to minister, pastor and teach. None of these describe me. And while I’m careful not to compare myself to others, I sat back this particular morning and felt my heart drop. It seemed everyone around me knows and is walking out their calling, except me.

It was what came next that changed my heart. My husband passionately described how God was speaking to him and in the process he was reminded of our calling. He then reminded me how God called us to minister to and help raise our two oldest grandchildren. As the words left his mouth, the sound of his voice entered my ears and my heart did a double take. Had I really forgotten so easily? What had happened to distract me so I lost focus on the things God had spoken to me not so long ago?

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 NIV)

Sometimes it is too easy to think we must be speaking, teaching or have a big title to make a difference in this world. There absolutely are those who are called to do the big jobs. One of my favorite pastors is a woman who started out as a mom. Doing her thing, loving her family and being called by God to step in to a pastor role. The key is she was called to it by God.

As someone who ministers freedom to others, I am passionate about leading others to hear God for themselves. I often explain I can tell them what the problem is or what I think God wants them to hear. But then it’s just someone in this world speaking my mind. If it comes from God it has a completely different impact. In the same way, when we receive our calling directly from God we will be honored to walk it out. In fact, we will be blessed for our obedience. Not because we are seen by the world as a great leader or speaker, but because God’s hand is on us and His favor will rest upon our lives.

I love what I get to do in this life. I love taking the kids to school, making dinner and sitting around the table to hear about their day. I am blessed each night at bedtime as they call me to their room to pray over them before they go to sleep. Looking back at my life, I don’t know if I had a praying grandmother. I would like to think I did, but it’s not something I know or experienced for myself. Each day I get to have an influence on my grandchildren I know they will someday look back and tell others about their grandmother who prayed for them. In my heart this is much greater than standing before thousands speaking or teaching others about what God has done. Why? Because this is where God called me, His voice resonating in my heart—and I’m honored and privileged to walk out my calling.

 

 

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Jesi Steiber lives in Fort Worth, Texas and is our newest addition to the MPN authors. She is married to a man she describes as “awesome,” who makes her smile every day. They have four children and four grandchildren. A favorite scripture is Ruth 3:11: “Now my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask. For all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.”