Why Being Fenced In Is God’s Best For You

Growing up, we raised cattle on about a 100 acre ranch. From time to time we had to bring allthe cattle into the round pen and run them through a regiment of check-ups. This was essential to our herd. In this environment we were able to gauge the health of every animal in a way that was impossible while they were in the fields. Those that needed more care were separated and individual care was given. You may wonder what that has to do with ministry.

In a recent sermon series of the book of Job we came to an obscure passage. In chapter 3, Job cries out in his pain. In verse 23, he makes an observation, “Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden, whom God has hedged in?”(HCSB)

Sometimes we feel like God has fenced us in. We try to move left and right but we cannot. We try to move forward or backwards but we cannot. We seem to be locked into a position and it is beyond our control. It may be in that moment we realize that God has us in the round pen. That is not all bad. So what good can come from being fenced in by God?

1. Protection. Not all fences keep things out, some fences keep things in. As pastors sometimes God has to protect us. You may be saying. “This situation is driving me up the wall!” But what if your greatest enemy could be yourself? What if that fence is there to protect you against you? Think about Job, there he is sitting with blisters all over his body. God was not protecting Job from external enemies, He was protecting Job from himself. When we face painful situations, we have a fight or flight mentality. For most pastors the fight has been long and they are all battled out. The only thing left is flight. God knew that Job would reach a point in this situation where he thought he couldn’t go on anymore. So God placed a strong fence around him. God did this for Job’s protection. Without the fence Job may have moved in a direction that would have been premature. Not because God doesn’t move people or pastors, but because we sometimes move because of pain rather than providence. So God has to bring us into the pen for our safety.

2. Focus, A lot of ministry is spent on focusing on things other than God. We like to classify administration, visitations, or hospital trips as the purpose for ministry. All of those things are important and they need some of our time, but if they get all of our time then we may lose our focus. Ministry involves a list of things, but those things are not our focus in ministry. Our focus is God and His glory. Sometimes while we are out in the field we lose sight of that. I know I do. My personality lends to reaching the goal. But in reaching the so-called goal, I can lose sight of the real goal. When that happens, God may bring us in from the field and put us in the round pen. It is inside the fence that we are kind of stripped of anything that has taken our focus. Job being our example, was stripped bare. It was during that time that God put all attention on Himself. The only person who could let Job out of the hedge was the One who put him in the hedge. Sometimes we need to have a time of refocus.

3. Balance. The heart that God gives a pastor is unique. It is from time to time that same heart carries a huge burden. A burden for the lost and for those who God has entrusted to them for guidance. Either way the weight is heavy. We as pastors want to ensure that people and ministries are cared for and successful. This makes for a delicate balance. On one side we have specific responsibilities and on the other God has His responsibilities. At times we lose that balance. We can easily take on God’s responsibilities. I envision Job everyday at the alter sacrificing and praying for the action of his children. He was trying to do for them what they should have been doing for themselves. Job was taking on a responsibility that was not his. Was Job unrighteous for doing that? No, but it was time for Job to go into the fence so God could reposition him. In other words, restore the proper balance. It was inside the hedge where God reminded Job that he was not God. It was there that God restored proper position over Job’s life. We can have the same thing happen to us in ministry. We begin to believe that “we” need to save the world and that we need to do this and do that. This is an unbalanced position and God may place us inside the fence to restore proper balance.

As pastors, we may all spend time inside the hedge, but if God places us there He will keep us there until He finishes His work. It may be that you are hurting so bad that God just wants time to love on you without the distractions of ministry or there are areas that need to be strengthened for further ministry. As one of my pastor friends once said to me, “The greatest work that God does in a church may be in the pastor.” God may have you pulled in from the field and in the round pen, but remember it is there that He can inspect you and give you the best care.

Pastor Greg Crawford is a native of Louisiana. He has been married to Nicole for 20 years and has two beautiful children, Allison and Hannah. Pastor Greg has been at The Church of Rosepine for eight years. He has a vision for a body of believers that have been liberated by the power of the Holy Spirit and are always sharing the Good News of Jesus in a modern and relevant way.