Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Comfort in Honesty

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, MSG)

I decided that I don't ever want to forget what it feels like to be in my current difficult situation. I have been pondering the "why's" of God allowing me to remain in this situation for such a long period of time. Perhaps it will be years and years before I understand the full extent of His reasons. Or perhaps it's as simple as Him needing me to live through this so that I am better able to help others in the future. He knows my heart, my goals, my dreams in regards to being in a place where I am able to help other single moms. If nothing else, this experience is shaping me and giving me a first-hand look into the tangible needs, emotions, and fears of single parents.

God never wastes any of our experiences; however, I think that we sometimes do. We as women like to come across to the rest of the world as having everything together in our perfect little worlds. We are so afraid of anyone seeing or knowing those parts of our lives that are painful or embarrassing or shameful or less-than-perfect. But when we allow our fear of what others think to rule our lives, we lose our ability to be there for each other in the ways God has intended. When we work so hard to come across as perfect, those around us feel that we cannot relate to them. It's when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and honest that we find that God can use us.

One of the links on the Sidebar is for Lysa TerKeurst's blog from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Last Tuesday she shared a little bit of her story. I was so drawn to her honesty and begin to think of the stories in my own life that God could use if I were to be bold enough to share them. Sometimes that might mean a group or public setting, but more often than not God seeks to use us in simple one-on-one situations.

Honesty is hard, but it is through honesty and sharing that God best uses us in each other's lives. He brings us through difficult and painful situations so that we can turn around and help others going through something similar.

Nothing in your life is wasted. Ask God how He can use you in a new way in someone's life.

P.S.
If you want to read Lysa's post that I referred to, click on the Proverbs 31 Ministries link in this sidebar, then click on "My Story" in Lysa's sidebar under Previous Posts.