Jenny (not her real name) slumped in her chair, her shoulders twitching and drooping with every movement. She turned away whenever I made eye contact, wiping her eyes as if they were leaking sorrow and pain.
Her actions drew me in, and her uneasiness sent a bolt of sadness to my heart. Yet, she attended the church service where I spoke, and for that, I was thrilled. But her struggle was real. I could sense it.
I moved to her during prayer as another woman sang the worship song. I whispered to her, shared a few verses, and encouraged her. Then, I introduced myself. She challenged me with hard questions: “What if it’s too late? What if I’ve done too much?”
I assured her that Jesus endured the most challenging part on the cross for her and that He redeems, saves, and gives new hearts. He isn’t finished and hasn’t stopped pouring loving kindness into her. She could turn to Him and repent.
She sighed, “But how do you know? How do you know there’s hope?”
“Because you’re here. He brought you here for this moment.”
Her weeping continued, “I pray He forgives me. But I don’t know.”
I encouraged her to remain in service, to take in the praise and the lyrics during worship, and to ask the Lord to speak to her through the Word. “Linger here with Him. I pray He speaks to your heart and life this morning.”
At that, she sat up taller and touched her Bible, and I whispered a prayer over her.
Later, another young woman came to me after service. “I can’t thank you enough for speaking to Jenny. I saw you go over to her. I’ve been overwhelmed and feeling lost, and so has she. We’ve faced some hard days lately. And Jesus used you to share the gospel with us today. You see us. And you speak life to us.”
We wept together, and I sensed a renewed strength to speak, share, and shine for Christ whenever given a chance. He sustains us, moves us, and guides us. May we go and share our passion for knowing Him. After all, what a great place to walk, as we’re zealous for Him! As we see His grace and mercy.
After service, another girl announced as she left the room, “Never think that what you do for Christ doesn’t matter. I love you. You remind us to follow Christ.”
I share this because someone reading this today may relate to it. You pray to make a difference for the Lord but may grow weary, tired, doubtful, or compare. You overthink! And your mind won’t shut off.
We all wrestle with circumstances. We get tangled in thoughts. We suffer and face sorrow. We worry. We wonder. We may even whine, especially if our faith is being tested. But during such moments, may we purpose to run the race of our life for Christ and persevere.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~~ Hebrews 12: 1-2 ESV
