Being a tool...

So that title is hilarious....exactly why I used it :)

I'm not talking about that kind of tool, though...I'm talking about being a tool for Christ. Seriously, I never thought that I would see God use me like He has in these past few days.

I'm not gonna lie, I've been through some crap lately. I've hurt a LOT and couldn't help but wonder what I did to deserve such pain. It wasn't until tonight that I realized just a smidgeon of why I went through it. A young lady that I admire a lot and myself have gotten to know each other this summer. We were never that close, but if it wasn't for my circumstances this summer, we would have probably never met. Tonight I found out that she is going through something very similar to what I've been going through these past 2 weeks. I would have had no clue how to encourage her and lift her up if it wasn't for this pain I've suffered. Hearing her words reminded me of myself a week ago...hearbroken, confused, hurt, broken down.... But, thankfully, the Lord has freed me of that. He's given me a peace that surpasses all understanding. Just today I was in my car and I turned off my radio and praised God for giving me the strength He's given me and asked Him to use what He's taught me. And God answers prayer!!! Tonight I was able to share with someone who was hurting...and hopefully use that as a ministry to work in her heart. I only pray that God heals her like He's healed me and help her see the greater good He's preparing for her!

Not only is it great to see God use me through that, but another person I met this summer through all of this has become my adopted little brother. He's dealt with a lot that he has kinda kept to himself. For some reason (hmmm...maybe God haha) he has totally opened up to me and came to me. Its great to see him tell me that I'm like a big sister that he can always turn to. And to think, if I had never gone through all of this pain and suffering, I never would have gotten the opportunity to meet him and minister to him. Praise God!

Both of them have been used as such a blessing to me and I hope they both know that. I can't wait to see God move the mountains in their life and I only pray that I can be half to them what they've been to me through all of this....even if they never even realized it :)

Thank you, Lord, for using me....I'll gladly be a tool for You anyday!

Joy in the Lord

Great faith is exhibited not so much in doing as in suffering.

I love seeing God work through suffering. As much as the suffering stinks, its a joy to see God's hand through it all. Great faith also comes in leaning. Leaning on God is a hard thing, at times, though. I lost the happiness that usually radiates from me lately, and I realized that the joy of the Lord really is my strength. I became weak and frustrated way too easily. Not until I made myself consciously wake up every morning and pray earnestly for joy, did I realize how strong I can be when I find that joy in Christ.

Francois Fenelon says that "the main thing is to suffer without becoming discouraged." When we can achieve suffering at that level, when we can take the blow and then no longer have to ask God to deliver us from it, then it has really fulfilled its blessed ministry in growing us. God's Word is perfect...and every one of my devotions this past week has been on the strength we receive from God when we suffer. He is crafting my heart into something great, and this suffering doesn't happen without blessings. I may not see the blessings for a while (or I may see them right away) but they are there...and when I see them, this joy will have made me so much stronger.