In 1987 I was going through a difficult transition from a ministry that I loved into something that was as yet undefined. It was a painful and traumatic time. During that period I met with Bobby Clinton, the author of The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development
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He listened to my story and in a few minutes shared what he called, "negative prep". The idea is that God was pushing me out of the ministry I loved so that I would be able to do the next thing that He wanted me to do. Over the past 30 years Clinton has been proven correct in spades.
There are Biblical examples of this. One is in Exodus 1:12 – 13. Israel grew so much under affliction that the Egyptians were in dread of them. Further, the difficult labor that they were given prepared them for the rigors of the exodus. It physically prepared them for the hardship of walking while carrying all that they had as they fled Egypt.
For the past seven months we have been experiencing a difficult time. The details are not important. What is important in the midst of any difficulty is to remember Bobby Clinton’s term, “negative prep,” and to hold tight to the One who is preparing us.
He is good. He loves us. Even when things seem the darkest, we can know that He is committed to our preparation for His purposes.
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There are Biblical examples of this. One is in Exodus 1:12 – 13. Israel grew so much under affliction that the Egyptians were in dread of them. Further, the difficult labor that they were given prepared them for the rigors of the exodus. It physically prepared them for the hardship of walking while carrying all that they had as they fled Egypt.
For the past seven months we have been experiencing a difficult time. The details are not important. What is important in the midst of any difficulty is to remember Bobby Clinton’s term, “negative prep,” and to hold tight to the One who is preparing us.
He is good. He loves us. Even when things seem the darkest, we can know that He is committed to our preparation for His purposes.
Yes, thank God we can KNOW.... This distills the great struggle of my life, the danger of rampant emotions to smother the vibrancy of faith. It is why, for me, immersion in the promises of God is vital for survival.
ReplyDeleteI know for you in 1987, for Abraham in Genesis 12:1, for Moses post Exodus 2:15 and later he Israelites post Ch.12:37 and for me today the future was at best blank, or more likely dark and foreboding through the process.
But, we have promises....
Thanks Chuck. Appreciate your faithful engagement here.
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