I got into something this weekend that is going to test me. :)
It all started on my mission trip to Arizona. I had so much fun playing with the kids, and sharing Christ with them, and then notes of encouragement from the others on the trip started to flow in. Time after time they mentioned how great I was with kids.
As I returned, I began reading Experiencing God, a really great study course, and a couple of things jumped out at me.
1. God speaks through His church to you
2. Pursue things that you cannot accomplish without God’s help.
After the encouragements I came home and was confronted with a huge need. Lots of children in our church without leaders. And so as soon as I could, I stepped out in faith, knowing that God would give me the resources and heart and commitment I would need, since He called me to do it.
And that’s where I am. Yesterday was the first day. I’m not going to lie, it was tough. It felt nothing like Arizona. I ended up feeling more like a drill sergeant than a faith trainer. And I didn’t really like that very much. I left just completely roasted mentally.
But I’m in an amazing place. First, I know that I cannot do anything on my own to increase the faith of the kids in my class. God is in charge of heart change, all I can do is be faithful and ask Him for help. And when the kids have grown in some way during the year, I will know that God was at work.
Second, feeling tested means I’m close to where God is working! Amen… if you’re never tested, did you really ever step out? Yesterday’s verse for the day, since I taught it and was taught it on the same day..
James 1
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
I pray this morning for wisdom. I pray for God-sized dreaming for things that can only be accomplished by God in us. If we can do everything we ever dream about on our own, that means we never needed God. We were never dependent on Him. I pray that everyone will find that place in their life that stretches them as far as they can go, brings them to tears, and shows them the sad and awesome truth… sad that we are finite and dependent, and awesome that God is as faithful to work maturity and completeness into us as He says He is.. if we just ask Him for it!
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