Inactive but available

This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting…

Numbers 4:33

The Merari family had a unique God-assignment.

Their sole job was to carry the Tabernacle for the nation of Israel during their wilderness travels.

Their responsibilities were specific, important, and taxing.

But it was not continual.

There were times in their travels that Israel would stay in one place for several days, weeks and even months. During that time the Merari family was inactive but available.

Did you get that?

There’s a difference between being inactive and being idle.

This is especially true for the person who desires to follow God’s plan for their life.

When you observe God’s heroes closely you will find that they spent a lot of time being inactive. Most of them had wilderness years (yes, years) when it seemed that God had put them on a shelf and forgotten them.

But to believe that would have been a big mistake.

God was using that time to prepare them and prepare the way for them to step into the next phase of His plan for their lives. And the same is true for you.

The ONE THING for today: Just because you are in an inactive season right now doesn’t mean you are not in God’s will for your life. The key is to be available – available to learn, grow, and be prepared for the moment when God says, “Okay, time to get moving again.”

Photo by Ophélie Authier on Unsplash