I just finished a book called anonymous, which talks about Jesus’ “hidden” years — the first 30 years of his life where we really don’t know much of what happened. The author, Alicia Britt Chole, makes a great point that reminds me that God is always working, building, planning, designing, going before us for good.
Often times as mere humans we get frustrated in the waiting times, in the quiet seasons…where we are filled with so much passion and we know our calling and our skills and our gifts but for some reason, it doesn’t seem as if we can release those things even though God’s given them to us. It feels like we might BURST at the seams if we don’t get to do those things He has placed in us.
Now, imagine being the Son of God, knowing from the very beginning of your life you have the power to heal the sick, the blind, the lame, to perform miracles, to show people the love of God and hope and every day you wake up and ask the Father, “Is today the day?” and He says back, “No, not today.” What trust, patience, and wisdom Jesus has to spend 90% of his life in those “hidden” years, not bursting at the seams, not wanting to get ahead of His Father’s schedule (yet, as the Bible says, being tempted to, but not sinning).
For 30 years He lived in these “hidden” years, mostly anonymous, preparing for three years of public ministry. And that is exactly what God planned.
I have been so challenged by this thought, that Jesus went to the lonely places to be with God, to take comfort, to receive guidance, and to ultimately obey and bring Him glory.
Wow.
(Here is a link to the book in case you’d like to read it. It’s lovely and Biblical and so thought provoking.)