The Slow-Moving Miracle
Biddy Chambers died 49 years after her husband. She had spent the years following his death compiling and distributing his work so that many could be touched by his ministry, and what a tremendous job she did of this.
Michelle Ule's book Mrs Oswald Chambers is a lovely read, and I do hope you will look it up and buy a copy for yourself. The book ends with a heartfelt tribute to Oswald and Biddy from a man named Stephen Pulford, who had been a soldier at the camp where the Chambers family had been stationed during the War. He had been disinterested in the things of God, and avoided the Chambers family and their religion as best as he could. But over time he got to know them, and they never pushed their faith on him, but loved him and cared for him as best they could.
The Beginning of a Greater Ministry
As it turned out, Stephen Pulford did become a Christian. He even became a priest in the Church of England. When Biddy died in the mid-1960s, it was Reverend Pulford who wrote a beautiful obituary for her, in which he said this: "It was during the Palestine campaign that I learned of Mr. Chambers' death. And although from a human point of view his passing seemed an irreparable loss, it marked the beginning of a ministry which he might never have achieved had he lived to pursue it. And this is where the slow-moving miracle (as we count time) begins."
What a lovely way of putting it! The "slow-moving miracle". I don't know about you, but I struggle with slow-moving things. I prefer things to move quickly! A slow-moving line is very frustrating to me. A slow-moving car in front of me can make my blood boil! Sometimes a slow-moving plan of God's can really cause me doubt.
Trusting God's Timing
But the story of Oswald Chambers' death, and the subsequent powerful ministry through his words and teachings, made me think. Perhaps God does this more often than we realise! Perhaps the fruit of our efforts is not always immediately visible. In fact, perhaps we might not even live to see the fruit of our efforts. But that doesn't mean God isn't at work.
Could God be doing a slow-moving miracle in your life right now? Could it be that the fruit you are wanting to see in your efforts might only be evident long after you're gone?
For me, this takes the pressure off! I can give "my utmost for His highest", and trust that He will use it all for good, in His own time.
So I say thank you Lord, for Oswald and Biddy Chambers, and the fruit of their ministry that I am benefitting from, even all these decades after they lived.
Oswald Chambers' greatest ministry began after his death through Biddy's faithful compilation of his teachings. God's miracles often unfold slowly over time.