Why me? Why now?

Two questions run through my mind. Why me and why now? God called, and I said yes. Grief broke me, and His love is restoring me. He is now calling me to share that love and truth with others. It's not about talents and abilities. It's not about who we are at all; it's about Him. He calls the most unlikely to do His will. When we come face-to-face with our sin and brokenness, we wonder how God could ever use anyone like us. It's in our weaknesses that His strength is made evident. We must remember it's all Him, and we are only called to follow Him and be obedient. What a precious gift!

It's hard to believe the girl who almost failed high school composition has now written and self-published a book and also has a blog. That's God. He is the inspiration behind it all, and I am excited, humbled, and eager to see what He will do next. It's not even about being successful; it's about being obedient and trusting that God will encourage and inspire others with the things He has taught me over the years. My greatest desire is to see His kingdom furthered and lives be changed through the gift of salvation He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Maybe you feel that you have nothing to offer or that you've made to many mistakes to be used by God. Perhaps you are at a crossroads in your life, wondering what God has in store for this next season. Maybe you are sitting in grief, mourning the loss of a dear loved one. Maybe your marriage has fallen apart, and you're simply trying to pick up the pieces and move forward. God is waiting for you to give Him your heart. If all you have is a broken and repentant heart, give Him that. He will forgive, heal, and restore you. He will give you a new purpose and fill you with His Holy Spirit. He loves you and is inviting you to lay everything at His feet. Throughout the entire Bible, He has used the most unlikely people to accomplish His purposes. Trust in Him and His goodness. If you hear that quiet whisper calling to you, run towards it with total surrender. Watch and see what He will do!

In Matthew 14:13-21, it tells of the time when Jesus fed over 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The crowd was hungry, and a boy offered what he had. In the flesh, it wasn't enough, but in the hands of God, it was multiplied to feed thousands.

The apostle Paul had Christians killed, Rahab was a prostitute, and King David was an adulterer and murderer. Gideon was a coward, Abraham lied, Jacob was a schemer, and seven demons had possessed Mary Magdalene. No one is beyond God's reach. He uses the least likely and what seems impossible in this world to accomplish His purposes, all for His glory.

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." - I Corinthians 1:26-29

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Father God,

Thank you for my dear friend reading this. Thank you for the unique calling you have for them. May they surrender every talent, ability, and broken place they may have. Help them to understand that there is nothing beyond your grace, and there is no one you can't use. May they give themselves into your loving hands, knowing they are safe with you. Be with them in the week ahead. Please bless and encourage them. Show them the path of life, and may they walk in it. Thank you, Heavenly Father! May your name forever be praised!

In the name of Jesus our Saviour,

Amen

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.