I think one of the most unsettling feelings is realizing how many missed opportunities I’ve had to share Jesus. Whenever I get into in depth conversations with fellow missionaries I ask for a story of failure. Today is the day I share one of mine.
Around Christmastime last year a homeless woman approached my friend and I in the mall and asked us for money. We felt sorry for her but politely declined and went about spending time together. There were a few moments hours later that I saw her hanging around alone in the food court. It wasn’t until I got back home that I realized that I missed a huge opportunity. I could have offered to buy her a meal at the food court, buy her thermal socks, a better coat (it was below zero at the time), maybe even give her information to a shelter I’d volunteered at nearby. I could have sat and asked about her life, asked about what she thought of God, told her what Jesus means to me, and offer to pray for her.
The mall wasn’t closed yet when I realized this, so I drove back to the mall and walked around hoping to run into her again. “She’s homeless, and it’s cold outside, I’ll bet she’s still hanging around.” But after circling around the mall for an hour, I still had not seen her. I left feeling somewhat disappointed in myself. I knew there would be more opportunities to share Jesus ahead of me, I just knew that I would have to boldly step forward in order to find them. How was I supposed to step out boldly if I wouldn’t even successfully grasp the opportunities that were literally handed to me?
I’ve been praying on and on that my team and I would grow in boldness in sharing the gospel and following through with God’s will. I pray that I would wake up and stay alert for all opportunities that come and go. Today was a story of failure, but I’m going to be writing a part two really soon. Part two is going to be about times we have successfully followed through in listening to God’s voice and following through. Stay tuned 🙂
And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. Ephesians 6:19
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