By Ian Morrison
Jeremiah 29:11
If my younger self had a crystal ball and saw me today, working as an Ordained Local Minister (OLM) alongside my work in the NHS, I’m sure he’d think the crystal ball was faulty and would take it back for a refund!
About 15 years ago, I had a very different life. I was focused on my career as a doctor in the NHS and was driven by personal ambition, with a series of clear goals professionally. My Christian faith was part of my life, but it always seemed to take a back seat to my work.
Very quickly though, I realized that something was missing. My friend suggested that, like most 40-something men, I was having a mid-life crisis and should buy myself a sports car. I test drove a Porsche, nearly crashed it and realized my friend may have been mistaken! I even thought about joining the Royal Air Force because I thought the uniform looked quite dapper, but shortly before travelling to RAF Cranwell for my assessment, I saw sense and changed my mind.
I was lost, and couldn’t understand why my professional career left me feeling so unsatisfied. Then, during worship one Sunday, I had a strong sense that God wanted me to approach Him in prayer and very quickly after that, God began to reveal His purpose. He showed me that I was being equipped for Ministry all my life and my calling lay in the church as an OLM, and not exclusively in my secular career.
However, I couldn’t bring myself to believe this call. When I looked in the mirror, I saw a doctor and not a Minister, and did everything possible to convince God He was wrong. But God is patient and over many months and years, He began to show me that I had the skills and abilities to answer His call. He strengthened my faith and gave me the confidence to fully trust Him. It wasn’t an easy process though, with lots of ups and downs during this journey.
And looking back, my life has progressed in a completely unexpected but wonderful way. I still don’t have a sports car and I’m not wearing an RAF uniform; but now, God has strengthened my faith and given me a role that’s incredibly fulfilling as an OLM. I follow His plan, and not my own, and understand that God’s ambitions for me are far greater than any I could possibly imagine. God’s plan brings me a sense of satisfaction, achievement and peace that I couldn’t possibly meet myself.
For me, change is being able to see myself through God’s eyes, and not through the expectation or ambitions of my job, or the values of the material world. God has equipped us all for His purpose and, as it says in Jeremiah, those plans will give us all hope and a future. It’s a future that’s far better than anything we could achieve by ourselves.
But change is also daunting and scary, especially when the path ahead doesn’t seem clear or appears beyond our abilities. I speak from personal experience! However, we should gain strength from knowing that God is always there to provide His support, guidance and love when we need it most. If we can trust God’s judgement and not our own, especially in times of change, He will reveal His purpose and bless us in ways we can’t imagine:
“’For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” Jeremiah 29:11
