I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

• Philippians 3:14

“’Oh no,’ she whispered, glancing every which way. ‘The tourist hotel rooms are the most dangerous places to talk. There is a hidden microphone in each room. Every word is put on tape and played before the officials.’ She left immediately.
“I felt defeated. How would I do what God had placed in my heart?
“The next day, I spotted something on the floor, under the edge of the bed. It was a pattern of tiny holes, like the top of a pepper shaker. This was where the microphone was hidden. Suddenly, I had a tremendous inspiration! I bent over the holes in the floor and gave the message of salvation for at least five minutes. My sermon would not only be heard but recorded and passed on to superiors. What a joy!
“Every morning, I gave the microphone a sermon, bringing the Gospel to my unseen hearers.
“After leaving Moscow, we traveled to Leningrad. Once again, I discovered the pepper-shaker holes in the floor. That night I gave the listeners something worth listening to-the message of the cross.
“The following morning, two serious men sat next to our table at breakfast. No doubt they were the secret police. I became disturbed and frustrated. Then I understood what God was doing. My microphone sermon had brought results. Instead of worrying, I should take this opportunity.
“I asked my companion, ‘Do you know that you can become a child of God?’

“She immediately grasped what I was doing and played her role. ‘I can never be a child of God. I am not good enough.’ From there, we continued talking about the wonders of God’s love and mercy for those men to hear. They pretended they were not interested, but I could see them leaning in our direction, trying to hear us.

“After a week of frustration, I was finally doing what God put on my heart, although not the way I preferred. Even when we are denied a big opportunity, we must make the best of the little ones. In every opposition that leaves us frustrated, we can tap into God’s wisdom and creativity and do what He shows us to do.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place

“Even my most frustrating circumstances can be turned to good if I use the opportunities God has given me.”

• Corrie ten Boom, Highlighted Quote

Boilerplate

In this new mini-series, I will be looking at a devotion that is said to be written by Corrie ten Boom.  Really, this devotion is like several that I had read.  They come from the writings of that person.  Thus, the prayers at the end may be the editor’s addition to what Corrie ten Boom actually wrote.

Each of these posts will include the suggested verses to read, a quote from the writing that came from a Corrie ten Boom book (five in all according to the copyright page, but no chapter in the book is given the specific book of origin).  I will also include the highlighted quote, similar to an internet quotation, and I will end with the quoted prayer for that devotion.

Discussion

Obviously, Tante Corrie was in Russia during Communist control.  She had tried talking to people on the streets and as soon as she said enough for the people to see she was talking about Jesus, the other person would hurry away, not wanting to be caught by the secret police for simply listening.

Tante Corrie was frustrated.  She thought she had been called to go to Russia.  She went through all the trouble in simply getting there, and then she could not share the gospel with anyone.  She was indeed frustrated.

When I read this, I thought of the days with this blog site.  Sometimes, there are very few likes, often no comments, but while I love the comments, I do not do this writing just for the likes.  The likes indicate that people are actually reading or skimming through.

But then, people could be reading from the reader page, and I would never know unless they like something or make a comment.  Those who are not registered with WordPress are another group that read posts, but you never knew they were there.

When those poor statistic days occur, God reminds me that He is in control and those that can benefit will see the post.

It’s like Tante Corrie giving sermons into a microphone that was used by the secret police.  The message of Jesus was being sent and even recorded, but would it affect anyone that heard the message?  That is up to God, even in a situation where there was freedom to talk to people face-to-face.

It is always up to God to change someone’s heart so that they will be receptive.  Tante Corrie just found two methods of sharing the Gospel.  I like the second one where her companion pretended to be an unbeliever and they could share the Gospel in that manner of the audience being the secret police who were eavesdropping on someone else’s conversation, quite clever.  Then again, God helped her in being inspired to try it that way.

When I was out of work for an entire year, I sent over 2000 resumes to people covering every state and a few foreign countries.  Some nights, my wife would ask if I had sent out any resumes to a good prospect, and I would say, “No, but I wasted a few human resource manager’s time.”  In other words, I could do the job, but I had a strong feeling that they would not give me the time of day.  Yet, in one case, I got an interview for a plant manager job.  It was for an industry that I had no experience.  But, I must have intrigued them with the bold move of “wasting the HR manager’s time.”

We never know how God will use what we do in service to Him.  But that is not our job to determine.  God takes care of that. We just do it.

Closing Prayer

“Father, forgive me for holding on to frustration instead of seeking Your understanding. I realize now that limitations can actually hold some of the greatest opportunities, even if they contradict my expectations. Teach me to see my setbacks through Your eyes. Every hindrance is a chance for revelation to enlighten my understanding. In the hidden place of Your presence, I will be like Jesus-seeing what You are doing, so I can do it, too.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place (prayer for Day 28, Frustration)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.