Remember yesterday’s equation from Alicia Britt Chole in her book Anonymous that I told you about?
10% visible + 90% unseen = an indestructible life
“The most influential life in all of history reflected the iceberg equation. Ninety percent of his life on earth was spent in obscurity. Ten percent of his earthy life was spent in the public eye. And all of his life was, and still is, absolutely indestructible.”
Alicia Britt Chole in Anonymous
Since I was a sophomore in high school people have told me that I should go into ministry.
I had people who had only known me a week on a mission trip or three days at Annual Conference telling me that I had a gift of speaking to people and that they could see me in ministry.
But as a high schooler I had no idea how to discern God’s call (and I still am figuring this out). In college I worked in youth ministry thinking that God was calling me there. Post college I taught children’s small groups thinking God was calling me there. I didn’t know where God was calling me.
And then I was in a place where I didn’t attend church. I couldn’t feel God calling me in any certain direction. And honestly I wasn’t actively discerning God’s call or even trying to draw closer to Him.
And the worst part – it didn’t even bother me.
Years before if I had felt myself drifting away I wouldn’t feel like myself. I’d feel like I was missing part of myself. I’d be anxious to get back in church.
I felt anonymous in my Christian life. I felt hidden. God wasn’t using me – or at least that’s what I thought – and I didn’t feel like He could use me. I’d almost felt like I had “peaked” in my faith and I was on a downhill slope – although I was far from it.
I felt like I was in this waiting period. Waiting for God to use me. Waiting for God to tell where He was calling me.
And I was frustrated.
I hated this waiting.
Why couldn’t God use me now? Why couldn’t he show me where he was calling me? Why couldn’t he help me figure this out?
It wasn’t until I was on a plane headed to Israel talking with Pastor Scott that I realized I was in a “hidden” time. An anonymous time.
Jesus spent 90% of his life hidden. He spent most of his life uncelebrated and unapplauded. The Savior of the world lived in anonymity.
And this is SO important.
God is not careless or causeless. He has a plan – a beautiful plan – for each and everyone one of us. He longs for us to want him. He loves us endlessly.
During His hidden years, God prepared Jesus for the indestructible life he would lead on earth.
Have you ever felt hidden? Do you feel that you’re in a waiting period? Do you find yourself asking God how He can and will use you?
You’re not alone. Your time will come. Jesus too faced a hidden period of His life – three whole decades of waiting.
Use this time to fuel your soul. Spend time with God. Embrace the hiddenness. Because God is preparing you for something incredible.
In her book, Alicia Britt Chole poses the following question throughout the different sections:
What grows in anonymous seasons?
And the answer that has spoken to me over the last several months is: An unshakable identity.
During this hidden time I have been able to recognize my identity in Christ. In Him I can overcome my fears. I can be a reflection of His love. I have purpose and a gift to share with the world. I am loved. I am worthy.
If you are going through a period of hiddenness, God’s got you. He’s using this time for you to grow. It may be for weeks, months, years, maybe even decades. But know that He is going to use you to make a difference in the lives of others. And knowing that, can bring you hope to sustain you through the hidden moments.
Father, thank You for our hidden anonymous time. Thank You for Your care in giving us time to prepare our hearts and souls for the work You will do through us. When we feel like there is no end in sight for our hiddenness, help us to feel Your presence. Remind us of Jesus’ thirty year hiddenness. Remind us that You know what we are going through and draw us closer to You. Amen.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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