He is Working in Us

When I named my blog, I thought long and hard about what it should be called.  I already had a family blog, but this was going to be my blog about my walk with God.  I didn't really intend on finding a community of bloggers.  In fact, I only told my bible study group about it and never thought anyone would read it.  I felt like it would be more of a journal.

God is Working in Us was born to be a constant reminder to myself that God was always at work in my life, even when it felt like the ugly stuff wasn't part of the plan.  It was a reminder that God could use my mistakes as much as He could use my victories.  It's the same for all of us.

When I was 15 years old, I babysat for a family that lived about 15 minutes away.  They liked me enough that they would pick me up and drop me off.  One night, the father of the family took me home.  It was late, past midnight and we drove down a two lane highway all the way to my house.  It was so dark, and every so often a car would pass with lights so blaringly bright that I'd lose my focus for a second.

This is what he told me on the way home that night.  "Keep your eyes on the white line.  If you look at the center dotted lines, you will swerve into their lane and lose your focus.  If you keep your eyes on the straight white line to the right, it will keep you in your lane and help you stay focused when those bright lights are shining at you."

25 years later, and I can still vividly remember that conversation.  I was just learning to drive, so I'm sure that's a good part of why I can still remember it.  But, there were spiritual implications to me as well.  The thing is that I'm just now starting to understand those words and their spiritual meaning to me.  We were never meant to focus on the people around us or coming at us.  We were meant to keep our eyes focused on Jesus alone.  

God wants to set us free from the trap of comparison.  He wants us to know that He is working in us, too.  He wants to use our stories mightily to help set others free.  He is drawing us in, closer to Him. He is drawing you to a closer relationship with Him because He loves you that much. 

The thing is, we are all one body.  The body has many parts.  You are an important  part of the body.  You have a vital role in kingdom work.  If your gift is to write letters, write on.  If your gift is to make meals for the sick, cook on.  If your gift is to speak at women's events, speak on.  Whatever your gift, carry on, whether you are the only one doing it, or one of one thousand women doing it.  Carry on.

Father, my heart is burdened for those who have lost their focus.  My heart is heavy for people who feel they don't have a place in the body, or that their place is somehow insignificant. I lift them up to you, and ask you to do a mighty work in them today.  Heal their broken hearts.  Mend the hurt places.  I pray that they would find their focus fixed on you.  I ask that those bright lights heading toward them would dim and that they would be able to see you more clearly, Lord.  Help my friends who are comparing themselves to others to lay those feelings at your feet, and to take on humility and kindness.  Let your love so flow upon them right now that they would know you have healed them.  Help them get reacquainted with you, with your word.  In Jesus Name, Amen.