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Ah, the proverbial square peg in the round hole. Perhaps no other analogy has gotten more mileage than this one when describing the fit that just quite wasn’t ideal – the fit that was too snug for everybody’s’ comfort.
In ministry I often find myself describing my situation as just that, a square peg in a round hole.
“My gifting isn’t suited for this ministry”
“I’m not called to this”
“My gifts would be better suited elsewhere”
But I wonder how often these are just excuses, things we think or say to alleviate fear and insecurity when (yes, that is a when, not an if) we fail.
Someone once told me that the worst preachers are the most gifted public speakers. Why? Because they tend to rely on their own natural talent over and above the grace of God. They tend to under-prepare, under-perform, and under-pray (sorry, I know I was reaching with that last one) in the course of fulfilling their vocation.
Conversely, some of the best preachers I have known are men who are not naturally outgoing or especially gifted public speakers, but they are aware of their desperate need for the grace and truth of Jesus Christ to flow in and through them at all times to have any chance of a God-honoring and God-glorifying ministry.
With that being said, what is the big deal about being a square peg in a round hole? As far as I can figure, that is the best thing for me. Failure and the resulting brokenness aren’t things to avoid or be afraid of, they are the times when we are drawn nearest to God as we recognize the sinfulness of our human nature and our daily need for Christ resurrected and alive inside of us.
Being a square peg in a round hole is more likely than not the norm, the general and God-intended means of our ministry. Sure, some things here and there will match up, and more often than not we will be gifted in the areas to which we are called. But I can almost guarantee things will never be a 100% match, because if they were, we would rely on our own natural ability in these areas and not the grace of God.
Praise the Lord, the creator of His servants who are eternally square pegs in round holes, for His glory.
I see an awful trend in ministry today: Too many pastors are so consumed with doings things for the Lord and serving Him in a mighty way, they forget to simply be near to Him and call upon His name.
My intention is never in ministry to do things for God, but to simply exist in relation with Him, and allow His graciousness to flow into and through me.
I have nothing to do with earning God’s love and I never have occasion to do something mighty for God.
God is good, faithful, and has provided for us.
57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
– 1 Corinthians 15:57
But beware, lest laziness and sloth take hold, for this is no excuse to rest back on our laurels.
12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
– Philippians 2: 12-13
Work, and work hard.
But do not think you can cause God to love you any more than He already does, and don’t think your work is invaluable to His kingdom. He is mightier than that.
Never rest content in your relationship with God, but seek Him each morning with desperation, eagerness and desire.
22The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
23They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
25The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
26It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD.
– Lamentations 3: 22-26
There, in fostering our dependence on God, is where the bulk of our energy must be expended.
Work – do for God – and we surely will become burnt out; empty and vapid shells of our former selves.
But be near to God and depend on Him, and surely His life will flow out of us for all the world to experience.
Only then will all the glory be God’s. For He alone is mighty and most worthy of praise.
7“Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you
While there were still three months until harvest
Then I would send rain on one city
And on another city I would not send rain;
One part would be rained on,
While the part not rained on would dry up.
8“So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water,
But would not be satisfied;
Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.
9“I smote you with scorching wind and mildew;
And the caterpillar was devouring
Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees;
Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.
10“I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt;
I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses,
And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils;
Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.
11“I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,
And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze;
Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Amos 4: 7-11
God speaks through the prophet Amos and proclaims to His people His desire that they would return to Him. He recalls times of trouble He allowed to come to pass, in hopes Israel would humble themselves and seek His face.
Through each hardship, however, they did not repent and they did not turn back to Him.
God desired Israel to return, and yet their hardened hearts and stubborn attitudes prevented them, and so God told of pain, angst, and suffering through the prophet Amos.
So often we do not understand God’s purposes and His plans, indeed it is impossible to do so.
Whether we are steeped in sin and need it stripped away through God’s sanctifying grace, or because God loves us enough to refine us that we would seek Him, only God knows His plans and His purposes.
For God is just that, God.
Infinite, incomprehensible, unsearchable, and always majestically and marvelously so.
John Chrysostom said it best when he said, “A God comprehended is no God at all.”
Whether because of our sin or because of God’s purposes (which are always far above us), God will have His way in our life.
Our circumstances are His design, and we have no ground from which to argue (just ask Job).
In all things, God will have His way, and our task is but to respond faithfully.
