How God Trains His Workers
The Lord disciplines His workers, that they may be prepared to
fill the places appointed them. He desires to fit them to do more
acceptable service. There are those who wish to be a ruling power, and
who need the sanctification of submission. God brings about a change
in their lives. Perhaps He places before them duties that they would
not choose. If they are willing to be guided by Him, He will give them
grace and strength to perform these duties in a spirit of submission and
helpfulness. Thus they are being qualified to fill places where their
disciplined abilities will make them of great service.
Some God trains by bringing to them disappointment and apparent
failure. It is His purpose that they shall learn to master difficulties. He
inspires them with a determination to prove every apparent failure a
success. Often men pray and weep because of the perplexities and
obstacles that confront them. But if they will hold the beginning of
their confidence steadfast unto the end, God will make their way clear.
Success will come as they struggle against apparently insurmountable
difficulties and with success will come the greatest joy.
A life of monotony is not the most conducive to spiritual growth.
Some can reach the highest standard of spirituality only through a
change in the regular order of things. When in His providence God
sees that changes are essential for the success of the character-building,
He disturbs the smooth current of the life. He sees that a worker needs
to be more closely associated with Him; and to bring this about, He
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separates him from friends and acquaintances. When He was preparing
Elijah for translation, God moved him from place to place, that the
prophet might not settle down at ease, and thus fail of gaining spiritual
power. And it was God’s design that Elijah’s influence should be a
power to help many souls to gain a wider, more helpful experience.
There are many who are not satisfied to serve God cheerfully in the
place that He has marked out for them, or to do uncomplainingly the
work that He has placed in their hands. It is right to be dissatisfied with
the way in which we perform duty, but we are not to be dissatisfied
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