As I was sitting in my social work class on September 1st, 2011, I heard a quote that I will never forget. "The thing you most grumble about is the thing you are the answer to. Don't wait!"(Cindy Jacobs). I sat there repeating it over and over again in my head. Immediately my heart began to stir and those issues that got under my skin began to fill my mind. How much longer could I go just thinking about the number of children who are abused and neglected each day, or children who are placed in foster shelters left feeling abandoned without a mother or father to kiss him or her goodnight? What was I waiting on?
Two weeks later, I got the opportunity to visit a children’s shelter where the kids were taken out of their home because they had been abused or neglected. When I went outside to the area where the young children were playing, I noticed a boy about a year old running around with one shoe on. The minute he noticed me watching him, he ran over and reached out his arms to be picked up. As soon as I picked him up, his face lit up with the biggest smile I have ever seen and he hugged me tightly. The joy of being able to care for a child in need like this is indescribable. It was hard to leave the little boy that night, but I knew that I poured out all of the love I had and I left knowing that he was in God’s hands and God had his best interest in mind.
God is not looking for someone who holds the perfect resume and all of the tools needed to change the world. He is simply looking for availability. First, we must become available to be used by Him, asking for the help and guidance of His Spirit. Then, His Spirit living inside of us will do the work of which we cannot accomplish in our own human strength. He will download God-sized visions and solutions into your heart. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. He already created you to have specific passions long before you knew what they were. He has chosen you. "You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name." John 15:16
I don't know about you, but knowing that God has chosen me makes me feel desired and wanted. His promises give me the faith I need to believe when He says to ask for what we need. Next, we must take action. God has different plans for each of us but one thing we can do is reach out. We have the answer inside of us, Jesus Christ, and the hurting people in this world are just waiting to meet Him, whether it be through serving, a conversation, or simply the joy of the Lord shining through you.
Find that thing you most grumble about and take action. We are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8). We are to be advocates for those who are in need, just as Jesus is our Advocate who pleads our case before the Father (1 John 2:1).
While I, myself, don't have all of the solutions to poverty, child abuse, or world hunger I'm continuing to trust my Creator, be led where His Spirit leads me, reach out and take action when He downloads creative ideas into my heart. For He who calls you is faithful, and surely He will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
No comments:
Post a Comment