Week 12
Look back on major
decisions, struggles, adjustments, or periods of change in your life. Can
you identify any places in which you wish you had sought corporate guidance or
in which you missed opportunities to be helped by those who could have provided
loving, wise direction for you? What can you learn from these experiences
that will help you grow toward a more vital participation in community?
Unfortunately I can think of too many times where my husband and I have missed opportunities for corporate guidance. One of the most significant periods of change for us was after having our first child. Life literally felt upside down. We had been married 7 years, had both started our careers, bought a house, were hugely involved in youth ministry at church, and had recently done a ton of traveling when we decided we should start our family. We had no idea how difficult it would be for us to adjust to our little one. We loved being parents, and we loved our son, but we did not know how to function. We took a break from almost all ministry, and nine months later we were still struggling to figure out how to balance it all. As hard as we tried to claw our way back into serving, things were never the same. Had we spent some time in seeking corporate guidance, I think this transition would have been so much smoother. We did ask for people to pray for us that we would know how and when to jump back into ministry, but we never asked people what they felt like God was saying. In fact, this whole concept is a little new to me. I've always been a fan of "seeking wise council," but it has never crossed my mind to pursue "corporate guidance" as Foster describes.
Had we intentionally sought people out to help us navigate life after our son, I believe we would have been so much more effective. Even now 2 1/2 years later we are still struggling to seek Gods will for us in regards to ministry. Corporate guidance is a brilliant approach to finding clarity for what God has. I was amazed when I read about the couple who sought corporate guidance regarding whether they should marry or not. I am fascinated by this concept, and am eager to pursue this disciple of corporate guidance. I can think of several areas of our life right now that corporate guidance would be tremendously helpful. The idea of living in this kind of community sounds truly amazing.
Unfortunately I can think of too many times where my husband and I have missed opportunities for corporate guidance. One of the most significant periods of change for us was after having our first child. Life literally felt upside down. We had been married 7 years, had both started our careers, bought a house, were hugely involved in youth ministry at church, and had recently done a ton of traveling when we decided we should start our family. We had no idea how difficult it would be for us to adjust to our little one. We loved being parents, and we loved our son, but we did not know how to function. We took a break from almost all ministry, and nine months later we were still struggling to figure out how to balance it all. As hard as we tried to claw our way back into serving, things were never the same. Had we spent some time in seeking corporate guidance, I think this transition would have been so much smoother. We did ask for people to pray for us that we would know how and when to jump back into ministry, but we never asked people what they felt like God was saying. In fact, this whole concept is a little new to me. I've always been a fan of "seeking wise council," but it has never crossed my mind to pursue "corporate guidance" as Foster describes.
Had we intentionally sought people out to help us navigate life after our son, I believe we would have been so much more effective. Even now 2 1/2 years later we are still struggling to seek Gods will for us in regards to ministry. Corporate guidance is a brilliant approach to finding clarity for what God has. I was amazed when I read about the couple who sought corporate guidance regarding whether they should marry or not. I am fascinated by this concept, and am eager to pursue this disciple of corporate guidance. I can think of several areas of our life right now that corporate guidance would be tremendously helpful. The idea of living in this kind of community sounds truly amazing.
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