We were all broken in some way, but God was using us to encourage each other.
"The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray."
~Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)
I was tired and felt empty. People sometimes came to me for advice when they were having issues. Since God used me in ministry as a broken person, I tried to stay available to encourage the best I could. I wanted to show God’s love to people, as it had been shown to me.
It used to be easy to get up in the morning, but now I wanted to stay under the covers to avoid people who annoyed me. My patience wore thin. The swirl of little negative thoughts began to tantalize me. I caught myself being less than nice hoping people would stand up to their problems and leave me alone.
One morning I knew that I needed help with my negative thoughts. I prayed to God from under those covers, to send me a godly woman or two as friends. A friend who I hadn’t seen in a long time called me the next day and invited me to a prayer group she was starting. No agenda, just to sit and see what God did with us--twelve women from different denominations. Intending to go once to be nice, God began to awaken me every week on Tuesday morning to get to that group.
Strangely, each woman in some fashion was seeking exactly what I had wanted: the companionship of a godly woman to hold us accountable. We were all broken in some way, but God was using us to encourage each other. Through this, I learned a good friend chosen wisely can refresh us. We can be reminded that even at our emptiest, we can ask God for His help to do
what He has called us to do.
As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, we remember the love God has for us, in sending His only Son to save us. He loves us even when we feel tired and empty. In His love, He provides what we need. Sometimes it isn’t just about showing God’s love, but the realization we also need to receive it. May we try to remain aware of that during a potentially busy season.
CONNECT WITH CAROL MCCRACKEN
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