Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years...and yours

by Alicia Britt Chole

What grows in anonymous seasons? An eternal perspective.

Jesus’ authority flowed not from possessions or positions but from submission. What was the surprising source of Jesus’ authority? Submission to his Father’s will and Word.

position + submission = empowering leadership position – submission = abusive leadership

Leaving no room for error drains the very life out of learning. When our goal shifts from growing to not failing, something has become off-center in our lives.

Excessive interest in that which can be quantified, measured, and objectively assessed reveals a lack of appreciation for the unseen, the immeasurable, and the eternal.

God does not hide us to punish us, but to protect us.

Anonymous seasons can be the most spiritually fruitful spaces of our lives if we respect their potential and cooperate with God in their development.

We wait upon him, not for what we hope to receive, but because of who he is. God is worthy to be waited on, whether or not we hear anything, whether or not we see anything, whether or not our dreams are fulfilled.

Along with unmodified obedience, a sweet spirit is one of the most powerful guardians of tomorrow.

Have you ever wondered what God really wants from us? He just wants to be close. On a cross, his Son removed the barrier sin had placed between us, so now Father God stands with open arms, simply wanting to draw us near.

When God’s whispers call us to release being celebrated and embrace being hidden, wisdom would invite us to bow in submission and bend in anticipation. In surrendering our fullness, we will gain eternal strength.

We are stewards, not owners, of the fruit he cultivates in our lives.