Isolated for a Purpose

Warriors Arise: December 29, 2021

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NKJV) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

I will never forget an impromptu meeting the vice president of the hotel chain I worked for stopped in, within 3 days of me getting "my" hotel to manage. He said he was on his way to meet with another manager so he didn't stay long. The meeting probably took no more than 15 minutes. He said, "Veridee, I can teach you everything you need to know about being a manager in 3 hours, all the paperwork and your to-dos. But a good manager doesn't sit behind the desk, a good manager is out among the people they serve, the customers and the staff. We expect you to spend more time with them than in the office. Don't get stuck in your office."

As a new parent, there were things I needed to do every day with my baby; however, being with my baby was important. As a new mom, I could get caught up in the laundry that needed to be done, because she would spit up on me for the 100th time that day and she and I needed to change. I could never have enough burp clothes! That way I could at least prevent a possible changing of clothes for myself. After finally getting the idea of keeping a burp cloth with me every time I picked her up, I learned that putting a bib on her would save having the change her after every feeding.

I didn't want to get stuck doing the paperwork or having that take up my whole day with my daughter rather than spending quality time with her. I began to be intentional about getting on the floor and laying beside her when she was trying to lift her head or roll over or get up on her knees to start crawling. I learned to read to her even though she couldn't see the book or read the words. Parenting is so difficult and seems so much like a job when all I did was the job; laundry, nursing, burping, changing, etc. But when I embraced being with our daughter, I became more than her parent. I became her mother.

God didn't put His DNA for His Son in a woman who was a seasoned mother. He put His seed in a virgin girl who had never mothered. Mary was learning to become Jesus' mother. She did not have her mother near to ask advice or to help her out. She didn't have any siblings around to come and check on her or take the baby for a moment while she washed clothes and cleaned up. She was 100 miles away which doesn't mean a whole lot in our day and time, but it would be like your mother being in a place where she had contact with everyone you knew, the wisdom you need, and the support that would bring a sense of security. In this same scenario it would mean your husband took you to a place across the ocean where there is no wifi or phone. She would be isolated from her family support.

You would think God would want someone who was experienced to be the mother of His Son. But how many times does our "experience" get in the way of being flexible. Sometimes the more experience we have the less movable we are. We can get stuck doing things the way we have always done them and are unapproachable to learn or try something different. God needed a couple who would be flexible.

You would think God would want the parents of His Son to have a secure support system, people they would call on when then needed help. But, when Joseph took Mary from Galilee, they lost their support system. Once again, our family may mean well but that doesn't mean they have heard from God. When you share a God opportunity do they respond immediately or do they pull away and ask God how to direct or encourage you? Sending Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem may have been part of God's plan to get them to depend upon His leading them, keeping them safe, and bringing Jesus up without the influence of those who maybe weren't understanding and believing who Jesus was? Sure, family means well. But meaning well, and seeking God on your behalf are two different things.

By day 3 Mary is thinking about how good it would be to have the support of her mother, sisters and extended family. But God, brought her with Joseph to a place where they would have to depend upon Him, listen to Him, and fully embrace being the Mother and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are times when isolation is for the purpose of being positioned to hear God clearly and choices are limited so we chose Him.

Father, thank for you all You have done to make me into the person You desire me to be. Thank You for isolating me so I could have the opportunity to listen and follow You rather than seek the advice and opinion of others. There are times their advice is exactly what I need but there are far too many times I have gone to others when I needed to go to You, seek You, listen to You, and follow You. I pray to have wisdom to know when I am to seek the advice and counsel of others. I pray to have wisdom to know when You have created a time of isolation so I can hear from You, follow You, and walk out what the responsibility of what You have put in my hands. You are my God and I will follow you in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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