My wife and I had an interesting time with a sister in Christ. It was one of those teen agnst mixed with identity with Christian growth sprinkled in with family drama. But one thing that I am realizing is that as sons and daughters of Christ we are a long way off from what/where God desires us to be and at the same time we are exactly where God desires us to be.
Many of the teens at church struggle with this and as we talked with them and struggle to understand them, we realize we are in a similar place. All the expectations, especially with who we think we are, who others think we are, and who God says we are… become somewhat jumbled… especially in the youth, but sometimes in the adult as well.
Time and time again, we are called to do things that we know we personally can’t and if we could, it turns out pretty mediocre. So we get down on ourselves thinking, we suck or get embarrassed because “what will other people say?” or I must look like a fool in front of that “expert”. But in reality, God calls us to be obedient. He calls us to step out in faith and to believe. God has enabled us to do certain things in life… whether big or small, God is able to turn 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5,000. He is able to use the remaining oil of the poor widow and let it pay off her debts.
”Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 KINGS 4:7
God is able to use even the smallest amount of faith to move mountains. For once we trust God, no matter how small we think the situation, because God is BIG, it becomes a BIG situation. I see this over and over again. With teenagers, with singles, with married couples, with seniors, with elders. We are called to faith because God has given us faith, we are called to obedience because the Holy Spirit has enabled us to do His will. No matter how hard or how little we think it is, for God all things are possible and He desires our hearts to be conformed to his image.
So my prayer is for this sister in Christ, for myself, for my family… for the church to trust in the Lord.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.