The Ready Arrow

“In the shadow of His hand he hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in His quiver.” Isaiah 49:2

Ever feel like you are out of touch? Maybe I shouldn’t go there- many people have said that I am out of touch with reality. Some in jest, some not. Living in a small community like Datil, Pie Town, Quemado, or even in a rather isolated county like Catron County, can lull us into believing that not much happens here- not much is required of us here. After all, we are pretty slow-paced and relaxed as country folks. Sure, we go to the city every now and then for our supplies or doctor appointments, but basically we are pretty mellow.

The Word of God, however, is pretty clear that God is always at work (John 5:17), even in Datil. We may think that we are laboring away in obscurity. No one will ever know our name. Does anyone even care what is happening in Datil, especially in the spiritual realm? The answer is a resounding YES! God cares.

Hunting is big in these parts. The elk are big, the deer and antelope are big, and you can usually find several outfitters and guides in each little town around here. We have designated units to hunt in. We have black powder muzzle-loader season, rifle season, and bow season. Let’s take a closer look at the bow hunter. He has all his gear and equipment, the camo, the powerful binoculars, the scents, the calls, and most important, his case full of arrows. They are sheltered away from the elements, but also away from the action, until just the right moment. Until they are needed. The hunter makes sure that the tips of his arrows are sharpened to the utmost; the shafts are straighter than straight, and the feathers just right. Then he waits for the opportune moment. Charles Swindoll puts it like this in his book, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life:

“Learn your lessons well in the schoolroom of obscurity. God is preparing you as a chosen arrow. As yet your shaft is hidden in His quiver, but at the precise moment at which it will tell the greatest effect, He will reach for you and launch you to that place of His appointment.”

You see, God has prepared and is preparing you for this place and time, and as opportunities to witness and minister pop up out of seemingly nowhere, we are to be ready to be reached for, much as the hunter’s arrows are always ready for the reach of the hunter’s hand. The eye of our heart needs to be always alert to the reality of our circumstance and situation. The reality of life is that we are here for God’s purposes and not our own. While we are going about our daily business in this physical world, God is preparing us and fine tuning us to be useful in His purposes. It is an ongoing process, so we have to be always ready to put into action and use those lessons we have already learned. Let us pray for and encourage one another at all times. At a moment’s notice, we might be the arrow God’s hand reaches for.