José Bourget

Two of my favorite things growing up were reading Bible stories and memorizing Bible verses. Weird, I know! But these two activities were associated with an experience of belonging, creativity and words of affirmation.

Two of my favorite things growing up were reading Bible stories and memorizing Bible verses. Weird, I know! But these two activities were associated with an experience of belonging, creativity and words of affirmation.

Oftentimes our family worship was reading from The Blue Books (formally known as The Bible Stories by Arthur Maxwell) or dramatizing stories from Bible heroes and even playing different types of Bible trivia. We would pray together as a family and review the “lesson.” The real treat was showing up to Escuela Sabatica (Sabbath School) where I would get to see my friends who I hadn’t seen in a week. Then the teacher would punch a hole, or place a sticker, or paste something on an elaborate craft to celebrate when I recited the memory verse of the week.

Adventures in the Bible continued when my mom married my stepdad who added three boys to her two. Friday nights, with the invention of handheld screens absent, we really got creative to keep ourselves engaged. It was a simple game that involved our minds, hearts and bodies. Each of us would have our own Bible (mine I earned from getting to Sabbath School early for an entire quarter). One of us would be the “quarterback” who would call out a Bible book, chapter and verse. As soon as you found the verse, you would read it and then you were released to run the course around the house. The first one back to the Bible would get a point. You use your mind to find the verse. Your heart to run. And your body to keep the other brothers from getting through the obstacle course before you. We almost never broke something. True story.

As I got older, the Bible was a steady guide when I reached for it. I didn’t always reach for it. But when I did, eventually it provided the right-sized story or verse to give my soul the nourishment it needed. This is when I realized that the Bible is more than interesting stories and encouraging words. It is one of the ways that God speaks to me (and you!).

Did you see that I use the word “eventually”? It’s really tempting to always take a quarterback approach when using the Bible as a guide. We expect that we ask our question to the Word and the Word will spiral back the answer. If life was simply about waking up, eating and going to sleep, this approach of “question asked and answered” might be enough. But I want a life that is more than merely existing.

I share all this because I learned something new about myself from one of my favorite Bible promises. It is a favorite of many found in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Sometimes I have approached this verse with the lens of one of the worst, albeit popular, versions of a stereotypical man. What does that mean? Let me try to demonstrate.

The verse ordains me to plot out uncharted territory. When confronted with obstacles, I will, by my strength and my might, be more than a conqueror. Standing firmly with the spirit of my understanding and prophetic vision. I press on to finish the race second only to Jesus and making sure others see my straight and narrow path. Though I’ve been bruised and mocked, these weaknesses of the flesh reflect the strength of my convictions…..(or something like that).

I had a plan. Like a really good plan filled with so many favorite things, and it stretched out years beyond the present, accounted for various contingencies, maximized values, and included life goals. God showed me one next step, then I planned and locked myself into several more steps beyond what God had actually revealed. The Bible tells us to not go to fortune-tellers, but sometimes when we look only inside ourselves that’s what we become, our own fortune-tellers.

Here’s another favorite Bible verse: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life” (Psalm 143:8).

It was morning when I was presented with a choice to formally and fully serve Andrews University. And my first mistake was pretty typical for me: quick to speak and quick to act. That kind of impulse can sometimes move you to walk on water or other times to cut off someone’s ear. In this case, it was the latter and it was my own ear. I said no, and I wasn’t even aware of the hearing loss I just brought on myself. Even worse, it is hard to actually trust God when you are showing Him the way to go.

Moving that quickly reminds me of a guy I used to work for. It took me forever to appreciate one of his best qualities—patience. Of course he didn’t think he was very patient. Yet over and over again, as he gave God time to act, things worked out in ways that had God’s fingerprints all over them. Come to think of it, this man probably felt impatient but wasn’t willing to act until God said so. I’ve gathered that the act of waiting to hear the voice of God during devotional time guided his professional life as well. He also got exceptionally annoyed when I attempted to finish his sentences. And those two things make a lot more sense now.

Here’s why. The Bible presents really good answers. But taking time to listen allows the living Word to come alive in us. Basically, when I’m quick to listen and slow to speak, I give God time to finish His own sentences. It’s one of my new favorite things. Giving time to listen for the voice of God.

I’d like to tell you that I know exactly why and to what end God has brought me to Andrews University now. The simple fact is I don’t. But I did eventually allow God to speak a complete sentence. Essentially He said “Go!” So I made the trek of about 100 yards north. Now it is time to listen so we can hear the next step God wants us to take. Hopefully, we’ll give time for God to finish the sentence.