One Sunday morning I was preparing scrambled eggs for a breakfast meeting at my office. It was a simple task I’d done many times before. I readied all my supplies and began by cracking the eggs on the counter before placing them in the bowl. After successfully cracking several eggs, I reached for another. As soon as I whacked it on the counter, it completely fell apart in my hand and spilled all over the counter. I scooped it up and threw it in the garbage before moving on to another egg. A pattern soon emerged where every other egg would fall apart and have to be thrown away. After I dumped the third egg into the trash can, I simply asked the Lord, “What is going on here?”
Over the years I’ve learned that when God wants to get my attention, He often speaks the message two or three times. After asking the question, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “You are using the same pressure on all the eggs, but it is too much for some. Some require a lighter touch. When you speak to the people this morning, remember these words.” After this brief conversation, I returned to cracking my eggs. Not another one was lost. I had been handling the eggs in the same way, for the same purpose and with the same outcome in mind. But God was asking me to adapt my methods and lighten my approach for some of His people. This simple object lesson has remained with me since that time and continues to impact the way in which I minister to God’s people.