God prepares men for a specific task(s). It is often through the harshness of providential circumstances that a man is meticulously prepared for a particular leadership position. Many times you will find that pastors are completely obvious to what God was doing until after some time has lapsed. It is only while looking back across the trodden pathway that you can see the web God has weaved for His leaders!
As Clay In The Potter’s Hand…
The adversity and obscurity found early (even before conversion) and continually in the life of an individual are used to shape the leader as clay in a potter’s hand. As the leader learns to change through suffering and embrace the traits, character, and virtues God wants him to learn, then God will move the man into new surroundings to live out what has been learned.
Through The Refiners Fire…
God may choose to shine light on the leader where he is at and not move him at all. Many pastors, missionaries and evangelists can testify to this. However, one must remember that He sends the fire to refine; wherever the prospective leader resides. This is the way God trains His leaders, and it is certainly backed up by numerous Bible examples. Abraham, Joseph, King David, Solomon, and John the Baptist, just to name a few, are men whom God trained and sent out.
The Trial Of Your Faith…
(1 Peter 1:7) “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (KJV)
One man said that faith which is not tried cannot be trusted. With this in view, we can see that God molds a man, often through harsh and grueling circumstances, so they can be tempered for greater degrees of leadership in even tougher arenas.
Conclusion…
God prepares leaders in many ways. Each person is unique and fitted for a specific purpose. God, in His infinite wisdom, is the only one who can see the end from the beginning. We cannot see what He sees in people sometimes. This is why we must be careful when being harsh on God’s men. Let God do the training, and follow the people He puts into your life so He can shape you!
