Sometimes our flaws and weaknesses stick out so glaringly that we get caught up in how needy we are and fail to realize that God might want to work through us. My friend RaVonne shares about a time when God used her and how she learned that God does the impossible through imperfect people.
I entered my room in the dorm, shut the door and locked it. Tears streamed down my face as I gazed out the window. Questions and thoughts on life flooded my mind like a tsunami crashing over an island.
“Was this really what International Student Convention was going to be like this year? I just want last year back. I want the freedom of meeting new people again, the drama of high school gone, and life to be much better. It started out fun, but I seriously just want to go home.”
I opened my Bible to Psalm 91. One of my favorites…
“…He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” –Psalm 91:2b
The verse hit me hard and with it came that familiar feeling of something drastic about to happen.
“God, I don’t understand why I feel this way…but I truly believe You have something in store for our school this week.”
I left my room with a good attitude…or so I thought. The afternoon was spent meeting new people and spending hours getting ready for the Grand Entry. It was all going to be ok, I assured myself.
Every message tore my heart more than I thought possible. Each night brought change and revival to individuals in the FCS High School. It was incredible. People who I thought would never change, recommitted their lives, and friends we had prayed for turned their lives in the right direction.
Absolutely b e a u t i f u l.
And only Jesus could bring this about.
The last night of ISC came and I was sad to see the week come to an end. The rally took place and more lives were made new. I couldn’t wait to get out and meet people after the rally and spend the last night doing what I had wanted to do the whole week, but wasn’t able to do because of the circumstances of the Spiritual battles raging.
I grabbed a piece of pizza from the stash bought by our school and left the group…I just wanted to have some freedom. For once. It was incredible. I could meet people and talk to friends. Just what I wanted. But as I left a conversation, I noticed a girl sitting quietly by the steps. The world was spinning around her, but she seemed to be somewhere else.
“You should make sure she’s ok…”
There was my inside voice buddy…only this time I wished he would shut up.
“Just stop and ask her!”
I fought back. There was nothing in me that wanted to spend my last evening talking to someone from my own school.
“I’m sure she’s fine.” I told the voice. {with a little sass} I wasn’t going to let that voice ruin it for me.
“Just check and make sure…then you can be done.” …The voice gently, but firmly spoke once again and now I was standing almost in front of her.
“OK. Fine!”
I hardly got the words out of my mouth and I knew something was wrong. She asked to go for a walk and my heart sank because deep down inside I knew my flesh wasn’t going to get its fulfillment tonight.
As she spoke, the words brought tears to my eyes…I had never experienced the emotions I was facing. Her words came to an end and I quickly whispered a helpless prayer to God for wisdom…then I put my arm around her and prayed. She followed my prayer with one of her own and that moment shall forever be etched in my mind.
H e r l i f e w a s m a d e n e w.
It was then that God brought back a prayer from the past…
“God, if going back to high school for another year is really what I’m supposed to do, can you please show me? …If one life {just one life} is changed because of my year in school, I’ll know I did the right thing.”
I don’t think I’ll ever get over the way He works. He is so personal. And He uses humans to bring Him glory. The fact that He chose to use me that night at International Student Convention is proof that He works through imperfect people. Because of His love and grace, I am where I am today.
You, too, have a life. You are human just like me. But you also have a choice. Please don’t make the decision to follow your feelings. Let Him work through you…He has beautiful plans for your life. Even when it feels impossible.
Question: Have you ever experienced God use you to do something that seemed impossible? Tell RaVonne about it in the comments by clicking here.
Authors Note: This is a guest post by my friend, RaVonne Rhodes. RaVonne lives with her family in Thailand where she is learning that God can use her even when she feels needy. Currently, RaVonne is a student at a missionary training school in Thailand and seeks to support herself through her passion of photography by producing cards. You can check out her stuff here.
