Only Time Will Tell
By Carolyn Hulliberger
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:17
This time of year brings new challenges for many of us. Perhaps you are looking to rejoin the workforce with your kids now in school. Your job duties (or your family) may be expanding. Maybe you have said “Yes” to serve the Lord in a new way. These can be daunting tasks to take on in addition to all of the other responsibilities a woman carries. And if you’re like me, you want your challenge to be a success.
In the book Outliers: The Story of Success, the author has researched what qualities make some people achieve far more than others. He found that the key factor in success was not outstanding natural ability, money, intelligence nor ambition. The key ingredient: time. From Bill Gates to the Beatles, Olympic athletes to world-class chefs, the leaders of these fields have exhausted extraordinary amounts of time to triumph at their passion. None were identified as child prodigies or had parents who gave them exceptional privileges. But all had time to invest. (1)
The Old Testament story of Esther supports his point. Esther was taken from obscurity. She had no royal heritage, and was, in fact, a Jewish girl in the Persian Empire forced to become part of the king’s harem. However, she alone of the dozens, if not hundreds, of young ladies in the king’s court, took the time to learn from the king’s eunuch, Hegai. Hegai was the girls’ advisor, but it seems that all the other ladies dismissed his counsel. Esther took his advice to heart. She studied the king’s preferences. She applied oil, perfumes and cosmetics for at least a year. And in the end, she pleased the king and became the Queen of Persia. Esther invested and God chose to bless the time necessary to achieve this success.
So, try not to be frustrated if you don’t immediately experience great victory in your new challenge. It just might need some more time.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you facing a new challenge? Frustrated with your progress on a current challenge? Ask God to give you the resources to perform it to the best of your ability.
FURTHER READING:
Esther 2:1-18
Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves in Student Ministries with junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.
(1) © 2008 by Malcolm Gladwell
