Weakness to Witness

I have battled with ADHD and memory issues all my life. When I was younger, I knew I was different. I struggled to learn to read and write. Even though I wanted to please my parents and teachers, I just could not always remember what was required. I stayed stress and anxious. I felt stupid, especially when I got those scornful looks of disappointment. I became introverted and my self-esteem remained low most of the time.

In my twenties, I married my husband, John. John loved to read and I kept observing his passion for the written word. As John shared details of a book, I began to realize I might be missing out by refusing to read. I made a decision. For the first time in my life, I pushed though my fears to read a book for pleasure. “Blue Camilla” by Frances Parkinson Keyes was the book I chose. As I read, I was surprised that I became so engrossed in the story. When I finished the final pages, I was left wanting for more. That one book gave me the chance for a new beginning.

In my thirties, my husband died of heart disease. God had blessed me with wisdom as I followed His guidance through my difficult circumstances. The insights contributed to my desire to share and help others. That yearning to help others was the seed God use to call me to write.

In my forties, I was doing fine with sharing short little notes and letters to others as the opportunity arose. I thought witnessing and strengthening those around me was all God would require. I felt safe in that assumption. But, I was wrong. He envisioned my writing reaching a much broader audience. As God revealed his dream to me, I was enthusiastic at first but then fear filtered through my excitement and I became afraid of failure. The “What if’” questions or “I can’t” began to haunt me constantly. I ended up telling the Lord I just couldn’t do, as He desired. But my fears did not hinder God one bit. God gently encouraged me to learn more knowing one day I would conqueror those fears and fulfill my destiny.

Finally, in my middle fifties with my fears under control, I accepted God’s call to write for Him. I accepted the fact that I would have to trust Him with everything I would write. I acknowledged I would no longer be in control of my writing gift. Ultimately, I told God that if he would inspire the words, then I would be His willing vessel.

Isn’t that just like God? Taking our greatest weakness, disabilities, and fears in life and turning them into our greatest strengths and witness for Him. We may not get on board right away with God’s vision, but that does not offend or deter Him one bit. God remains steadfast in mentoring us until we can see and claim the victory for ourselves.

Psalm 34:4-7

How about your weaknesses? Is God mentoring you into victory? We all have weaknesses which we would prefer to be left alone. But God is not deter. He will skillfully foster a witness for His glory if we are willing to replace fear with faith.

A Rally Point

Many may feel their religion is supposed to be private. Nevertheless, those who have come into a relationship with Christ know our Lord has commanded us to go public. 

In Matthew 28: 18-20, we read these words:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Going out into the entire world with Christ-centered principles is not an easy task as the owners of Chick-fil-a found out, and even more so last week. Chick-fil-A is a family-owned company. From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business. He has stayed true to those principles no matter what it has cost him or his reputation.

So why am I bringing this up? Saturday night, as I was walking around a mall in Atlanta, GA the Lord began to speak to me on the merit of this issue.

“This is one of my rallying points.” He said.

“What do you mean Lord?” I said.

“I am going to use prominent individuals to rally my people together.” He said.

Then He brought the Chick-fil-A stance to my mind.

As I pondered last week’s situation, I asked the Lord for wisdom in what He was trying to say.

Following God’s biblical principles is not always easy and definitely not popular. When God raises a standard to follow, we have a choice to make. Are we going to follow Him or not? God never makes those choices for us because He desires our willing obedience above all.

Showing your outward support of godly principles is risky. On August 1, when I stood with Chick-Fil-A, it was not to condemn anyone but rather to say God has shown us a better way. Heaven knows I have my own battles with godly principles. But biblical standards are something I have learned to appreciate, treasure and strive to meet even through I may fail. God’s ways are always going to be higher than our human reasoning. However, if we are going to fulfill God’s mandate to go and teach what He has taught us, then sacrifice is apart of the process. Just “blending in” is not usually God’s plan of action.

So what is God asking of us? This is what I sense to be true. To be willing to step forward, unite whether we all agree or not, and to show the world a better way, God’s way to truly be free. To truly live what we believe. To be willing to stand in the face of opposition with a loving and grace-filled heart towards others in spite of what we believe. And they will know we are CHRISTians by our love.

Are you on the fence? Do you have the courage to join with the body of Christ as God purifies us and unites us as one? These are challenging times and fence sitting may not be an option much longer. But remember…you will never be alone in this venture because we are all learning anew what it means to present the gospel in a way that draws others in by the power of the Spirit.