Encouragement

Does the Lord Have You On Downtime?

by Wade Nye
04/09/15
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Hebrews 6:15 So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.

My father recently had a heart attack, under doctors orders he was told not to have any physical activity. Afterwards he sent me a letter, part of it really grabbed my attention he stated, "how do we do nothing?" Being an active tennis player and just being active all day long. Inactivity was something that he was not familiar with.

This study is based on my reply to his letter. If the Lord has you in a place where you are not able to do anything you are in excellent company. Many times in the Bible and in church history these “downtime” arrangements although unpleasant have brought about mighty works for the kingdom.

God has and continues to use his heavenly toolbox to put the brakes on our physical lives so that he may use us to do mighty spiritual works.

Imprisonment, Exile and Banishment

The Apostle Paul's busy ministry was constantly being put on hold by imprisonment. Paul was ashamed of his imprisonment he wanted to preach God as a deliverer. But without that down time the church would not have Paul's written works today.

Moses Most of his life was spent sitting in a desert tent exiled and banished (self imposed and otherwise). He died in his banishment. God needed Moses to have this time in prayer & writing to allow him time to bring forth His word & His law and to have the wisdom & strength to lead His difficult people. Moses was one of Gods mightiest servants.

The Apostle John It was during John's imprisonment or banishment to the Isle of Patmos that he was given the The Revelation. Evidently time with nothing to do but pray and write was an important component to God revealing the future to John.

King David In early life David was sent away to the fields to tend sheep. From many writings we gather that for some still unknown reason he was banished to a life of tending sheep. Sent away by his father with the agreement of mother & brothers. Later David under threat of death from his father in law Saul David lived the life of a desert exile. During these lonely years of doing little David gained wisdom and strength to lead God's people many important Psalms were written during both of these periods.

Joseph Before becoming second in command of the most powerful nation on earth he spent years in exile from his family. At the time of his ascension to the level of Egyptian president he was sitting in a dungeon stripped of all of his duties. This period was needed by God to prepare him to lead his people and the people of Egypt.

The Israelites God wanted the Israelites to spend time away from daily duties living in the desert learning true worship before entering the promised land. Later during the period of the Babylonian exile many important books of the Bible were written and idolatry was stripped away permanently from the Israelites. God had allowed His own temple to be destroyed the priests no longer had any work to do but pray and study and write.

The prophet Daniel's mightiest works were done while in Babylonian seclusion.

Abraham was ordered by God to cut himself off from his people and his land and live in a land of strangers. He spent most of that time sitting in a tent and waiting on God.

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert to be prepared by God for His ministry & his sacrifice.

Not mentioned here are many others Jonah, Elijah, Peter, Richard Wurmbrand and I am sure a host of others.

Sickness & Infirmities

Paul describes infirmities which I am sure left him unable to do any ministry work outside of his room. This time I am sure was a contributing factor to his writings and revelations.

King Hezekiah was stricken with an illness that left him bed ridden and unable to rule. These life threatening infirmities put Hezekiah's eyes on the Lord he accepted the ministry of the man of God and turned his teary eyes towards heaven. God allowed him to continue 15 years to oversee Israel's greatest revival.

Samson imprisoned grinding in circles and blinded his downtime allowed him to see God's original purpose for his life.

Watchman Nee His greatest works were written while enduring a debilitating illness including tuberculosis that left him bed ridden and confined for the first 11 years of his ministry. His works are as relevant today as they were when written in the 1920s.

King Nebuchadnezzar stricken with insanity his time away from civilization brought a soundness of mind to allow him to serve God and even write a chapter of the Bible.

So if God has brought you to a place where you can do mighty works for Him. Please don't let this opportunity pass you by. Pray and listen to the voice of the Lord. He has done mighty things spiritual works through his servants while they were able to do little physically. He is the same God today as in the days of Abraham.Please during this time keep me in your prayers.

Isaiah 40:31 Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won't become weary. They will walk and won't grow tired