Have you ever asked God what he is trying to teach you? What does God want to show you in this season? Have you ever been asked these questions by people you’re close to? Do you have friends, family or mentors that you look up to in your life?
I’ve learned that these mentors or people I look to for guidance are usually the hardest on me. Now that’s not to say that they are mean or that they judge me for what I do or do not do. They are just the people who hold me accountable or “call me higher”. Most often, when these people are being hard on me they are telling me something that I really need to hear. Sometimes it’s harsh truths that will ultimately benefit me and show me things that I couldn’t otherwise see.
Since being in Vietnam I have been sick. This started with some stomach pain which put me out of ministry for a week or so. Being sick and having no choice but to slow down from my “go-getter” mentality has been quite challenging. My team was ending our first week in Vietnam and I realized I hadn’t been able to do anything. This took a real toll on me and made me question so many different things. I began to wonder if I was ever going to get better. Yes, I realize that’s dramatic, but I let that thought begin to consume me. I began to only focus on myself and how I felt like I wasn’t getting any better. I talked to some of my team and our squad leader about how I was feeling and the first thing they said to me was, “Have you asked God what he’s trying to teach you?”. This question kind of hit me hard. I hadn’t even thought about what God was trying to show me in this time.
It took me a day or so before I finally asked God what he was trying to teach me in this slowing down, restful time. I listened to a church service from home and it talked about 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. This passage is talking about Paul and the thorn in his flesh and that it was put there to keep Him from being conceited. Paul began to beg God to take away this thorn and like Paul, I also begged God to just make me better. I pleaded that I didn’t want to be sick, I wanted to do normal things again. God didn’t remove the thorn from Paul’s flesh, but rather He explains to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I couldn’t help but relate that to being sick, and how I became consumed by my own problem over the week. God spoke a lot of truth to me in this message. He changed my perspective on how I was viewing being sick and feeling weak. I know that where I am spiritually or physically weak, God’s grace is there and He gives me strength.
I have found it so beneficial to have people in my life who call me out of my dark places or self-centeredness. People who not only love me but who are willing to ask tough questions that humble me and change my perspective. I’m not really sure what this next week would have looked like if I didn’t have a community that pointed me to God. So when you find yourself in a situation that you think should be different, or that you don’t want to be in, don’t forget to ask God what He’s trying to teach you. Ask him to show you the good in the situation, because I promise you there is good! PEACE
XOXO
Heather
