Fear not, I am the
first and the last, and the living one. – Revelation 1:17
This weekend at church, we heard from several missionaries. The
stories they shared reminded me that hidden suffering is all around us.
Newborns are left to die, children are neglected, entire communities are
tormented by spiritual deception, secret saints fear for their lives. Clearly,
this world is no party!
I tend to feel overwhelmingly sad and frustrated by these
situations. As a mom, I wanted to drop everything and rush to the cold, dark
mountains of Asia, scoop up the precious, discarded babies we heard about, and
bring them safely home. But I can’t. I’m a single mom with limited means and a
very full schedule.
If only I were
God. I would do such a great job!
Yes, that’s where my self-reliant, self-enthroned thoughts take
me! But I felt God’s reassurance as I listened to the victories he had won in
each situation. It was easy to trace his loving hand in each tragic story we
heard. Working through humble, yielded people, God “upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14) You can listen to the
missionaries’ beautiful stories here. (Please check back if it’s not available – it takes a couple days to post the
sermons.)
The triumphant stories brought a two-fold message: They elicited
my trust, assuring me that God is far better able to handle his world than I
ever could. And they inspired me to do the most effective thing I can, staying
close to Jesus and letting him use my life however he will.
The stories revealed what God is always doing, even when we
don’t see it. He is at work in every situation, calling people to himself
through unexpected solutions that we could never devise. Because he is
omnipotent and omnipresent, he responds to any prayer, anywhere. He sees the
big, eternal picture, and he is good.
Jesus told us, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Our
part is to rest in Jesus, staying in tune with him each day and yielding our
lives to him. He can use the yielded, unpretentious life in ways we can’t
imagine.
Has God used your life in a special way?
At the beginning of this year the door was opened to me to begin a women's ministry in our church. I knew it was on my heart & was given the go ahead but didn't know how I would be received. You see I'm white & I attend a majority black church. But no one there had ever not accepted me... it was all my past history of rejection that I had trouble seeing through. I worried that they would not be receptive to me... BUT GOD!!! I had to yield to God & just do what HE has laid on my heart and leave the results up to him. Not only have they accepted my leadership but God has used my willingness to yield to him to encourage others in the group to do the same... and ministry is happening!!!! Thank you Lord!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteAlways live as if God is going to use you for his purpose. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It's wonderful to know that God has a purpose for each of us.
Delete