07/01/2024
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Finding Purpose in the Seemingly Useless"
You might recognize this from a recent church bulletin…
"God plants His saints in the most useless places. We say, 'I should be here because I am so useful.' Jesus never estimated His life by the standard of great use. God puts His people where they will glorify Him, and we are not capable of judging where that is." ~ Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
This quote hits home for me, particularly the word useless. Let me share with you why that is…
Home Church: The first church where I served as a pastor was a rollercoaster. Within a year and a half, it imploded. The older men in the church took the reins to navigate through some significant conflicts, and I felt like I was just set aside. It was tough, feeling so useless and sidelined. But looking back, I see that God was teaching me patience and humility. He was preparing me for future challenges in ways I couldn’t understand at the time.
Men’s Ministry: Then there was the men's ministry conferences that I ran for less than a year before we had to shut it down. Despite my passion and effort, it just didn't take off. It felt like a big failure. But now I realize that it was a season of learning about perseverance and the importance of sowing seeds, even if we don’t see immediate results.
A Brief Tenure: I also served at another church for less than a year before realizing that God was calling me back to the region where I grew up to plant a new church. That short tenure felt like another failure, but during that time I felt a renewed vision and clarity about the kind of church I wanted to be a part of.
Church Plant Failure: Our plans to plant a church hit a major roadblock when one of my best friends, who was supposed to co-lead the project, backed out. To add to the disappointment, a denominational official halted the project due to some disagreements. It was a crushing blow, but it reinforced the lesson that God's plans often differ from ours, and He is sovereign over all circumstances.
Seven-Year Journey: The second attempt at church planting went better than the first and this one lasted seven years before merging with Crossroads. This felt like another failure on the surface. However, those seven years were filled with growth, community building, and numerous opportunities to share the gospel and build up believers. The merger was not an end but a transformation, leading to new beginnings.
Crossroads Community Church: When I started at Crossroads Community Church in 2006, I had a vision to help people through counseling. Despite my efforts, counseling never became a significant enough part of my schedule. This apparent uselessness taught me to trust in God's timing and to find contentment in serving Him, regardless of visible outcomes.
As I reflect on these experiences, I see that each moment of perceived failure was a divine appointment where God was working in and through me for His glory. Any lasting fruit from these endeavors is His fruit, and I take comfort in knowing that nothing is wasted in God's economy.
Scripture Reflection:
Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph's journey was fraught with moments that seemed useless and unfair. Yet, in Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Joseph's story reminds us that what we perceive as failures or useless moments are often integral parts of God's greater plan. Our role is to remain faithful, trusting God is at work, even when we cannot see it.
Conclusion:
Through the lens of God's glory and story, no experience is useless. Each moment is an opportunity to glorify Him, to grow in our faith, and to trust in His sovereign plan. Let us embrace every season, knowing that God is using us for His purposes, even when we feel inadequate or unproductive. In His hands, our lives are instruments of His grace and glory
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for placing us exactly where we need to be, even when it seems useless or unfruitful. Help us to trust in Your plan and to find joy in serving You, knowing that You are always at work in and through us. May we glorify You in all that we do, and may our lives bear lasting fruit for Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.
