Articles by Charlotte Gambill

Don't Force What God has not Endorsed

A recent visitor was commenting on her amazement at how much we have going on both in the church and into the community through our inner city ministries. She considered it all and asked, 'How do you make it all happen?' As I listened to the question, I sensed her eagerness for a secret formula she could then reproduce. As I stood poised to answer, it dawned on me afresh that there are no short cuts, no formulas, and no special methods. We were just busy with what was important to God. We were truly outworking the principle taught us by Pastor Paul that, 'When you bless what blesses God, God blesses you.'

God later reminded me of this conversation and spoke into my spirit, 'Charlotte, there will never be a need for you to make anything happen. Just remember, don't ever force what I have not endorsed.'

Genuine or counterfeit

Thinking about this more, I looked up the definitions for forcing and endorsing. Forcing is defined as 'exertion against something that produces strain in the body.' God doesn't want a forced church but I have been in a number of forced meetings that have definitely caused a strain on Christ's Body. I have been involved in forced conversations and felt trapped occasionally by a forced relationship. Forced friendships mean forced conversations and forced times together. In short, they are high maintenance and will eventually wear you out.

In contrast, the definition of endorsement means 'approved by a signature.' I believe that God endorsed living means we only get involved in what God has already signed up to. His signature of approval is not on everything. Therefore, some try to forge it by operating counterfeit ministries, or involving in counterfeit relationships that God has not and will not endorse with his distinctive signature. These counterfeits look and sound similar to God's but are run from a personal agenda rather than his. But if God does not endorse it, then what you force into your life, will eventually force you to keep it there.

Counterfeit ministries fail the endorsement test when trouble comes because God's hand does not protect forgeries. Sadly, people who didn't realise they were sustaining a forgery, begin to jump ship and get damaged in the process. But when you know what you are doing is God endorsed, you can sleep like Jesus did in the boat even though you may be in the middle of a storm. He had 'signed up' to go to the other side of the lake, and you can rest secure that you will get to the far shore of your God endorsed journey too.

Live from God's source not your force

Here's a helpful thought: You don't have enough force to make God do anything that he doesn't want to do in or through your life! Understanding this will lower your blood pressure, reduce stress and guarantee you some sleep at night. Too often we spend precious time trying to make things happen only to come to the realisation that God has not and will not endorse them. Jesus said:

Are you tired? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.'1

Jesus will teach you the 'Unforced rhythms of grace.' What a wonderful picture of life in Christ. There is nothing in God's nature that is forcing. He doesn't need to coerce anyone or anything. He is the all-sufficient one and in him there is no lack. God wants us to be like him, not living under pressure, striving for our own promotion, gift or grasping for opportunities. He operates from grace not stress and if he lives in you, then you already have the 'unforced rhythms' of his nature within you.

Many 'burned out' Christians get angry with God because his solution to their weariness is not what they want to hear. Jesus asked in the above passage, 'Are you tired, burned out?' His answer is not, 'go on a retreat or a vacation.' These are solutions we force into our cramped calendar in the hope they will remedy our burn out. Instead, Jesus' answer, which is a shock to many, is: 'I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me.' His answer to your burn out is, get busy! Work and walk in the things God has approved and you will find all the rest you need.

The most satisfying, fulfilling and refreshing work is with him. Don't just work for Christ out of a sense of duty but instead learn to work with him as the co-worker he has called you to be.

Signs of forcing

So how do you know if you are forcing something? Here are a few tell tale signs:

Exhaustion

I recently heard about a pastor who just wouldn't stop forcing things to happen. Despite his staff's desire to help, he was determined to be in control. Then one weekend he got up to preach and collapsed from exhaustion on the platform. Sadly, this could potentially be said of leaders all over the world who are trying too hard to keep control of everything and be in the know about everyone. As a result they are enduring the journey rather than enjoying it. Forced leadership operates this way; it pushes people all the time and causes you to step out of God's strength which is inexhaustible, into your own strength which is very exhaustible!

God doesn't want you to work that way for anything. Scripture says, 'Do not wear yourself out to get rich, have the wisdom to show restraint,'2 which isn't saying that God does not want you to have riches, but rather that he wants you to have the wisdom to work on what he is endorsing as a priority. You will then bump into all his other blessings, for 'He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour.'3 If you will just pursue righteousness and love people, you will keep bumping into this blessing on the way.

Anxious And Striving

Someone recently asked me about my prayer life. On replying I was struck with the realisation that I spend very little time praying for myself, yet I don't find myself in lack or trying to twist God's arm to bless me. He just does. However, if I start forcing things it has the opposite effect. Large amounts of time are spent praying, or rather pleading with God, for things which he will bless me with anyway if I would just relax and work with him.

Don't be a 'stress head' and pray striving prayers. Forcing is the breeding ground for anxiety and striving, which then affects your whole demeanour for, 'An anxious heart weighs a man down.'4 You can spot anxious people in a crowded room, you can see their heaviness in their posture and hear it in their conversation. Anxious people are not peaceful people.

'Where there's a will, there's a way' is the distinguishing cry of all who live from the source of their own capacity to force things into being. We rather need to adopt the phrase: 'Where it's God's will, there's a way.'

If you're forcing peace into your life, it won't work. You can't force peace by counting to ten, breathing techniques, scented candles or CDs of ocean sounds. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so stop manufacturing peace treaties all over your life, they won't last, they are subject to too many terms and conditions that you will have to keep enforcing. Jesus said 'remain in me and you will bear much fruit.'5 Remaining in him is the key to growing God-endorsed, authentic fruit. If you want the fruit of peace, joy and blessing, just remain in him.

Lost Priorities

A third sign that you are forcing things in your life is that you lose your sense of priorities. Becoming obsessed by achieving goals that you have set yourself leads to forcing things. Families suffer for the sake of the promotion that Dad or Mum can't live without, marriages are strained and health can decline as you lose your sense of priority in the pursuit of your desired goal. Consider this: 'If you get what you want, will you want what you get?'

1 Kings 21 records the story of Naboth's vineyard. It tells of King Ahab who had everything but still desperately tried to obtain Naboths vineyard for himself. Naboth refused to sell because it formed part of his God-given inheritance - God had endorsed that it stay in his family line. Faced with this refusal, Ahab set about forcing possession of the vineyard. In the end he got the vineyard, but it cost him his life.

We must ensure that we are not like Ahab, striving for things which are relatively unimportant, and letting their pursuit consume us to the point where the cost of obtaining them is far greater than the value we gain. Learn not to be persistent where God is clearly resistant; don't force what God won't source into your life.

If you recognise these signs of forcing in your life as you read this article today, I pray that as you examine yourself, you will have the honesty to identify the issues in question and have the humility to change. May you have the largeness of heart to live life beyond your own agenda, 'stop forcing what God's not endorsing,' and live in the 'unforced rhythms' of God's grace.

1 Matthew 11:28 The Message, 2 Proverbs 23:4, 3 Proverbs 21:21, 4 Proverbs 12:25, 5 John 15:14