What if you were without a job and God tells you to start a business? No money to your name, no idea how to run a business, but He is telling you to start one. Would you obey? Would you question it? Would you wonder if you should? Would you pause to think about how impossible it is? The Calling Let me share a little with you. I’ve been blessed to be a part of an amazing church. It started off very small and when coming to this church I had no idea what I was to expect but knew I wanted a change in my life. As I started attending I was very new to the faith. Sure I had attended church a few times but it honestly was like that’s all I was simply doing was attending. During this time I was a college student in my early 20’s. There were others that attended that grew up in church and/or older than me, so when a missions trip was presented I just knew I wouldn’t be one of the ones to go. Well, I was wrong. You see I didn’t really give the trip too much thought because I assumed I’m not capable to go on a missions trip. I mean why would God want someone like me to go share the gospel? I still had so much to learn. Surely He wanted someone with years of church attendance, years of serving in a church, or someone who grew up in the faith. When the trip was brought up to me in a conversation needless to say I was shocked and after processing it kind of scared. I had never really traveled and to go across the world to an unknown place with a mission from God I felt I wasn’t ready for was a bit scary. But instead of automatically saying no I said I would pray about it and man did I pray about it. Decision So what did I decide? Honestly, I didn’t decide. God decided. At that point in my life I had never been more sure God had called me to do something than this. Sure I wondered how would I be able to bring the gospel to these people when I hadn’t even read the Bible in its entirety. That was a requirement, right? And also how was I going to afford it? I knew He would provide and believe me He provided. The money did not just come out of thin air, I had to my part. I had many fundraisers but never did I think I’d be able to raise all the money through small fundraising. To me it was amazing to see how God worked in the small. You see I think a misconception is we just sit back and let God do all the work but no we have to do our part when He calls us to do something. I mean you would never expect your car to work without any gasoline, right? Just as we have several resources to buy the gasoline we have to use the resources God gives us to see His will over our life come to pass. (Please do not confuse this with taking control over God.) We have to put in work! Doubt You know how I said I had never been sure God had called me to do something more than this? Well, let me tell you. Many things arose to try and fill me with doubt. Things to make me question the calling, to bring discouragement, to put fear into me. All these things were overwhelming but through prayer and asking God to give me wisdom and discernment to know what was and wasn’t from Him all the doubt started to fade and I was able to tell when things weren’t from Him. I knew if God called me to do something He wouldn’t also be bringing me confusion. As the Bible states in 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” That when I was told “God showed me (such and such) so you shouldn’t go.” I had to confirm with God and couldn’t rely on what man was telling me God told them. Whether you are a new believer or have been in church all your life you have to be very careful of what is spoken over your life whether good or bad. So I prayed about it all and God gave me the peace I needed to know I was doing what I was called to do and I had nothing to fear. The Trip Before the missions trip I would ask God to prepare me in all areas to be able to go and do what He was calling me to do and that I didn’t leave the same. I didn’t want to leave Africa the same person I was going in. This trip definitely was and remains to be a blessing to my life. It pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. It showed me that God can use someone new to the faith, that it doesn’t matter how many years you have attended church. All that matters is that you are open to letting God use you. You see when I was out there on the trip it wasn’t by my own knowledge or strength that I was able to complete the mission it was by God alone. He used me because I was open and willing to be used and I trusted Him. That although I saw it impossible for me to do He already knew what was possible. Yes, when called I had doubt, questions, and fears. I was very unsure how someone like me could be used. But just as the Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” We don’t need to know what God already knows. Is it really our job to know everything? I would say no. That it is something we should leave to the all knowing God. What we are to do is to be willing to be used when He calls us, even if it doesn’t make sense or align with our life at that moment. To trust in Him. As God has been ministering to my life I hope you as well allow Him to use you. Never think there is such a thing as God using you too many times or He’s used you enough. Be open and ready to be used. After all, isn’t that what we were created for? Let’s open our hearts to be used by God. Prayer: Father God use me and use everyone reading this. Help us Lord to be people that are open and willing to be used as You call us. That our time here on earth isn’t for nothing nor for our own selfish desires but that we complete the mission You have assigned us. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!
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Follow meAuthorJessica Andrade Archives
April 2019
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