After you make it through the initial shock of tragedy and begin to come alive again, you eventually realize there is a greater plan at work in it all. The most frustrating part is not knowing what it is.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
– Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
We are often blind to the plan until we trip right over it and fall into something completely unexpected. This blog is a perfect example. I would have never thought to write encouragement. I never considered myself a writer. I communicated my heart with my voice behind a keyboard to a congregation in worship – not behind a computer keyboard writing. But God had a different plan.
I began to feel like God was whispering to my heart that I was going to be speaking to women. I laughed it off, “Okay, God. Yeah. Sure.” Less than a week later I received a phone call from a former youth group student at our church asking me to share my testimony in her child development class at college. When I hung up the phone that day I felt God say right back to my heart, “Okay, yeah, sure. I told you so.”
God will often raise us from our pit of sorrows and use us to minister to a life in need. Sometimes we are a hot mess while doing it, but as long as we are allowing Him to clean that mess and use it for His glory, God doesn’t mind one bit.
In the midst of every echo of pain, we need to be vessels. He is looking for hearts willing to communicate His grace. His truth.
And if I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that healing takes place through sharing with others what Jesus can do. When you are part of someone else’s healing, your own heart begins to mend.
Being confident of this very thing,
that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it
until the day of Jesus Christ.
– Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
He has begun a good work in you. Even if tragedy has befallen you and shaken your entire existence, He hasn’t forgotten that work and He will be faithful to complete it.
Be confident He has a plan and He will be faithful to complete it!
Love,
Jennifer
Have you missed any of the posts in this series? If so, click on the landing page.
My eBook, Mercy Waits, is available!
So very thankful for all your words in this 31 days 🙂 How timely they have been for me and have washed over this heart that tends to grow very weary at times. Thankful for the reminders that somedays we just have to keep going forward. It won’t last forever.
Hi Kimberly. It won’t last forever. I’m so thankful you enjoy the series. God bless you today as you continue on the battlefield.
Dear, Sweet Jennifer, thank you for relating God’s goodness in your life. It is such encouragement for those of us that are struggling with difficult situations. Sometimes is it hard to remember that God does indeed have a plan even in the midst of our pain. God Bless your wonderful work ministering to women like me that need to be reminded of God’s grace. For we all fall short of the glory of God, and yet He still adores us!
Kay, Thank you for your sweet words. I’m so thankful God is speaking to you through this series. Be blessed today!
Jennifer,
God can and does use our pain to bring hope to others. Your story is an inspiring testimony! Grace and blessings to you,
Bev
As I read your words today, I thought about how God truly can do so much in and even through us when we just open our hands and let Him have it all. It’s not always easy, but I love how He is directing your steps. Beautiful, friend…thank you for sharing! 🙂
Jennifer, this post means so very much to me. I especially love this > In the midst of every echo of pain, we need to be vessels. He is looking for hearts willing to communicate His grace. His truth. < This is so much of why I write and what I've built my own blog around. Bless you for following His leading and for continuing this good work of encouragement and lifting others up.
Loved this: “God will often raise us from our pit of sorrows and use us to minister to a life in need. Sometimes we are a hot mess while doing it, but as long as we are allowing Him to clean that mess and use it for His glory, God doesn’t mind one bit.”
So thankful God takes our sorrows for His glory and for His purposes. It’s such an amaing thing, isn’t it!