Hidden Treasure: A Faith that Exists for Others
When I was 13 years old, I was preparing to have a minor surgery on my foot at the end of summer. I knew after surgery that I would be spending lots of time on the couch reading and watching movies as I recovered. In an attempt to totally milk this whole surgery thing, I asked my mom if I could have a “pity” prize. To my joy, she said yes, so I spent a couple days thinking of what to ask for. Then one morning I woke up knowing exactly what I wanted: a really nice Bible.
Now, I was given a bible a couple of years prior by the church that was very nice, but I remember wanting one that had margins on the side of each page to take notes. Something in me knew that I would want to study the words on these pages in depth. So, shortly before my surgery date, I was gifted this beautiful, brown leather-bound, large-print, note-taking bible.
Over the next few weeks as I slowly recovered, I held this bible dear to my heart. Every morning, afternoon, and night I would flip it open and read whatever page I happened to land on. I would highlight and take notes on the things that made sense to me and the things that I couldn’t understand. I would take it with me to church, to school, to vacations, I mean everywhere. I didn’t fully understand why I loved it so much, but I just knew that when I read the words on those holy pages, something within me was deeply settled and at peace.
That same year at the age of thirteen, I felt a call in my spirit to ministry. I didn’t know what that meant or looked like down the road, but I knew that I wanted to share the joy I felt from the Lord with others.
When I was seventeen years old, I heard God tell me that I was called to speak His Word. I was overwhelmed and totally caught off guard by this, but I was filled with joy and peace at the same time. I didn’t know when He would call me to do this, but I knew that it would be the ultimate vocation of my life.
Yet even though I had such an assurance that God called me into ministry, I still found myself constantly worrying about my future. I always felt like I was called to ministry and something else. I often wondered why I had such a passion for other things like traveling, writing, academia, music, and more. I always hoped that God would choose to call me into ministry at a later time in my life, perhaps after I had established a secular career with a high-paying salary and security. I always imagined I would have all my ducks in a row – the perfect fitness routine and lifestyle, the perfect wardrobe, the perfect job, apartment, friend group, etc. – before ever being asked to step into this calling.
But, no matter how many plans I made for my life or dreams I surmised for my future, the only time I ever truly felt at peace was when I came home from a long day, crawled in bed with my Bible, read His perfect Word, and spent the remainder of my evening talking with Him. I’d just sit and let Him remind me that His timing and plans for my life are far better than anything I could ask for or imagine.
This summer was a bit of a quarter-life crisis for me. I graduated college early. I had no official plans for my life post-undergrad. I didn’t know if I wanted to pursue law school or my master’s or not go back to school at all. I didn’t know if I should stay home and work this year or travel as much as possible. And while I was trying to figure all these things out, I spent much of my days being severely self-critical. For as long as I can remember, I have struggled intensely with racing thoughts. Much of my thinking was so anxious and negative, and it’s weighed on me for most of my adolescent and young adult years. I thought that having a perfect plan for my life would ease these thoughts, but a couple Sundays ago I realized that the cure to my anxiety wasn’t perfection – it was God Himself.
On Sunday August 16th, I was spontaneously ordained a pastor at Eagles Way Church. I didn’t see it coming so soon in my life. I never thought that it would happen at this age. But I’m so thankful that I didn’t see it coming. If we had planned for it, I think I would have tried to escape it out of fear I wasn’t ready. Something so divine and surreal happened the moment I was ordained and prayed over. All of those racing thoughts that plagued my thinking instantly stopped.
And they’ve yet to return.
Suddenly, it all hit me at once. There was never another path for my life other than to serve Him and His Kingdom. There was never another perfect plan I had to figure out when He already ordained my steps for this. Since that day, I haven’t stopped thinking about the 13-year-old girl who carried her marked up Bible everywhere she went. I now know that the faith that God placed within me was never meant to only serve me. The years I spent falling in love with Him and His Word have only prepared me for a lifetime of sharing that joy with others. A life ministering the goodness of God to others? Sounds like a dream to me.
My favorite parable is the one about the hidden treasure and the pearl. Matthew 13:44-45 says:
44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
I love this scripture, because it’s exactly the kind of faith that I desire. It’s the kind of faith that 13-year-old me desired before she even knew what it meant. A faith that doesn’t need all her ducks in a row to say yes to God. A faith that doesn’t need a perfect plan for the future to step into her calling. A faith that is so full and pervaded by His Spirit that all who see me and meet me feel the love of God. A faith that is willing to let go of everything for the sake of Him.
For the first time in my life, I truly believe that nothing else in this world matters. Nothing else could fill me and satisfy me except the presence and fullness of God.
For the first time ever, I know that my faith was never meant to just help me through my own struggles. It was always meant to serve and help those around me.
I have found the hidden treasure, and with it I’ve found joy abundant, peace everlasting, and love eternal. A life of ministry – a life with Jesus – is all I could ever ask for or imagine.
May our faith always draw us nearer to God. May His presence and goodness be the hidden treasure in our lives. May nothing ever take place in our hearts before Him. May our faith grow not just for our sake, but for the sake of those around us who need it. May our faith heal, unify, bring peace, and spread love and joy unimaginable. May Eagles Way continue sharing this treasure with the masses.
Blessings,
Anna Takle
