In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I suppose we will all agree that our search for a pastor comes within the broad definition of “anything” about which we are exhorted not to be anxious as well as within the “everything” for which we are to be in prayer. But how does “thanksgiving” fit into it? I think that if we look below the surface we may find much to be thankful about.

First, we can be thankful that we are not without a shepherd. Psalm 23:1 says “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” In other words, I (or we) already have everything we need. Indeed, 1 Pet. 2:25 makes clear that Jesus himself is the true Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

He has also provided us with the Holy Spirit, who will lead during this time. As Jesus was preparing his disciples for his crucifixion and his subsequent ascension, he told them that he would not leave them as orphans, but that the Father would send the Spirit of truth who would live with them and be with them forever. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that He “has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

And he has given us elders, who have been called to lead and shepherd “the flock,” and more importantly, who understand and have embraced their God-given role. Moreover, he has given us two teaching pastors who remain and continue to serve the body.

We can also be thankful that while we may not have anticipated this time or this need, God is not surprised. In Psalm 139, David says “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The same can be said about our Church body. Indeed, I think that the clear implication of this passage is that not only before this need arose, but before the foundation of the world, God had chosen the man he intended to fill the void and to lead our Church with our other elders. I firmly believe that there is one man that God has called to serve at this time at Cool Community Church. God will provide us with that man, in his timing, provided we wait patiently on him and earnestly seek the man He intends to provide. In Acts 17:26, Paul tells us that God “determined the times set for [men] and the exact places where they should live.” In James 4:15, we are told that we should humbly approach life with the attitude that “if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

So, let's pray for God to provide the man he has called in His time. At the same time, let's not forget to be thankful for all He has given us while we wait on Him.

~ Bob Bylsma