Hi! So right now we are serving at a school in Ecuador. We teach English and help out with activities and clubs around the school! It has been super challenging in the aspect that it can feel like we are back in high school, BUT it’s been fun and just all around good to stay in the same place and build relationships.
One of the relationships we have been blessed to form is with a boy named Matthew. (name changed for privacy reasons!) He is from GEORGIA!!!!!!!!! <333 but came here to learn Spanish. Which like can I just say is one of the coolest things? Imagine dropping everything and moving just because you want to learn a new language, and he is our age! So anyways, everyday after school we eat our lunch with him and chat and share stories and all that. In my mind, I kinda assumed he knew the Lord because he was teaching at a Christian school and he moved across the country. (because lets be honest not many people choose to leave everything they know and love unless they’re a missionary…or instagram famous lol)
So when talking to him I just was 100% me! Emma Robertson! No pressure. No Christianese words sprinkled in my sentences. Literally just goofy ol me!
But then, the other day, I realized that my assumption may be wrong. He does not mention Jesus ever, he speaks on his high school days and it seems they were filled with recklessness, and he is very curious about us and what we are doing here. I am not saying all this to judge him or say that if you do those things you aren’t a Christian. I just suddenly realized I could be completely wrong about this boy.
Then after I realized that I was like “Oh shoot time to turn on the Jesus talk!”
WHY DO I DO THAT? Like….why am I a different person around people who know Jesus and people who don’t? They are ALL children of the kingdom. Why do I feel a need to be on my best behavior in front of people that don’t know Jesus? Like I have something to prove and I am a failure if I don’t. Why is there just all this unnecessary pressure when I get into friendships or even small talk with people who do not know the Lord?
His word says to come as you are. Have I been thinking that is only applicable for non-believers? Because that is so far from the truth.
Come as you are as in “if you say the wrong words to them I will have it fall on deaf ears. Do not worry about what you need to say.”
Come as you are as in “the way you speak captivates people, even if it isn’t deep and poetic and sounds like twitter slang” which if you know me….lol
Come as you are as in ‘I love you just how you are and I have placed you in this persons life not to be perfect but to be authentic. I need the real you to shine through. You are the glory of my creation.”
Lets stop putting pressure on ourselves for people’s salvation.
I do believe that there is importance in speaking His name and representing Him well- because for all we know we are the only Jesus some people will ever see, BUT part of being a believer is relying on Him. I neeeeedddd to learn to rely on Him to speak to me when I need to speak something to someone, otherwise just resting in who He has made me to be. I am beautiful, l am worthy, my words have value!
Even if I say things like bootleg instead of a Bible Verse, the Lord can STILL use that. In fact, He loves to. What better way to demonstrate His power and ability than using MY imperfect words to highlight the glory of His name??
So, to Matthew, thank you for teaching me the importance of being yourself. Jesus— thank you that you love me as you find me. And to future Emma, stop the striving. He will move either way because that is who He is.
