Vintage

It is amazing what happens in a person's life when you let God work through you.  This can be done any time and any place, but I have seen this time and time again on short term mission trips.  I think it has something to do with pulling yourself out of your comfort zone, away from your normal network of support and structure, and plunging yourself into an incredibly unfamiliar environment.  It is at this point, when you can't call your best friend or talk to your spouse or other family member about what is going on, that people turn to God for help and comfort.  When a person turns to God first they begin to see God work in their lives in ways that may have never happened before.

Rachelle, one of the women on our mission team, is relatively new to the Christian faith.  She really didn't feel like she could make a great contribution to the ministry we were doing, but came on the mission trip because she truly felt called by God to do so.  She spoke several times about feeling overwhelmed, inadequate, not up to the task that was before her.  Yet I, and the other mission team members, saw God work through Rachelle in incredible ways every time she opened her mouth or arms to encourage, love, teach, and offer compassion to those around her.  We got to witness what happens when someone simply says, "God, I don't think I can do this.  But since you have put me here, please use me to accomplish what you desire."  She inspired homeless street children, pastors, missionaries, indeed anyone who heard her or felt her love (all while she felt "not up to the task").  

How about you?  Are there tasks, works, events, etc. that you feel are impossible to accomplish with your knowledge, experience, and talents?  Have you turned down opportunities to serve, teach, love, and help because you felt ill-equiped for the task?  I'll bet you have.  I know I have.  

I have always been amazed at a certain passage in the Bible when Jesus tells his disciples that they (some of them, anyway) will end up being arrested and tried before judges and governors.  Jesus tells them not to worry about what to say in those situations, but to simply have the confidence to open their mouths and speak.  Jesus promised them that the Holy Spirit would give them/us the words to speak in that moment-all we have to do is open our mouths.  I have seen what happens when frightened people in uncomfortable situations are bold enough to open their mouths and share God's word. It is a beautiful thing to behold when that person realizes God just worked through them in amazing ways.  I pray that you would experience the same in your life. 

Do not fear, but simply trust that God can and will accomplish in and through you what He has promised He would accomplish.  Then stand back and be amazed at what He, and you, just did.  

 Blessings, 

PD

You can read more about the above scripture in Mark 13:9-11 and Luke 21:12-15