I was introduced to Megan Brown at the Speak Up Conference in Grand Rapids. She’s wise beyond her years and has challenged me in ways she doesn’t even realize. Let me explain just a little bit to you.
I’m just as guilty as the next person. My prayer life hasn’t always been “on point”. I’ll throw up a quick request from an honest, but rushed heart. But even if my prayers are “good” (the first thing and not a last resort, etc.), I’m praying from my lack of perspective. My lack of understanding.
One of the first raw prayers I ever prayed was in March 2001. My brother had just died and I was desperate for God to explain what He was doing. I promised that I would share my story if He would help me.
Life has been a roller coaster since that prayer. And I’ve prayed countless others since then, too. I’ve asked for strength, compassion, love, forgiveness, and a long list of other things. And although I’ve never felt that God wasn’t listening, I’ve certainly questioned over and over. (It’s really okay to wrestle with Him. I do it a lot!)
If I prayed for strength, I expected Him to give me………..STRENGTH. I trusted Him to do it. Because He’s faithful and trustworthy. What I didn’t necessarily expect was for Him to send me an opportunity to LEARN strength; where it comes from and how to maintain it.
When I prayed for compassion, He didn’t just wave His hands and suddenly find me to be the current version of Mother Teresa. Quite the opposite. He would specifically place me in situations that taught me real, genuine compassion.
I’m guessing you see the trend here? Every intimate detail of our lives is sifted through the all-knowing hands of THE almighty God. Not a single thing is wasted. Not divorce. Not abuse. Not betrayal. Not poverty or depression. Not cancer or job loss. Nothing.
Not only do I believe this, but the Bible says so. Story after story we read about those who are the least likely (by worldly standards) to be used by God. In Exodus 3:11, Moses says, “Who
am I……?” Rahab is identified in the book of Joshua as a prostitute; yet she’s mentioned in Hebrews 11 with other pillars of faith. David was a murderer and committed adultery. But some of the most loved and comforting words in scripture come from him in Psalms. I have plenty in my past that I’m not proud of and find challenging to openly discuss. But without fail, as I trust God wholeheartedly, He keeps His promises to me. He comforts me. He gives me strength. And then He expects me to share that with those around me. If I allow it, my hurt can become my ministry. God often makes His appeal to the world through us.
II Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God”. Paul knew something about this. The Greek word for “comfort” can also mean “one who comes alongside to help”. Although we could assume that it would mean “to ease”, it actually also means “to strengthen”.
I’m not the best candidate. I’m honestly less than impressive. But if God can use my lack to help someone else, count me in!!! What are you waiting for?