Impressive? No, But Let Me Show You Who Is

Last week my husband and I had the privilege to be interviewed on the Focus on the Family Broadcast, which was something I never could have dreamed of ever happening. I posted the picture below on social media, and one of my friends commented, "Impressive." The word made me cringe. Amazing opportunity to share what the Lord has done for us, yes, but impressive? No. Let me explain...

The word impressive might suggest that somehow I am impressive, that somehow I did something impressive to bring about these events, and that is simply not the case. Anyone who knows me knows that I am as ordinary as can be, as unimpressive as they come. But let me tell you who is impressive - Jesus, Savior of the world, the One who pulled me out of a deep, dark pit, who renewed my hope, and set my feet on the very Rock of Himself.

When I heard the Lord's gently whisper to begin writing my book five years ago, I was broken, hopeless, and fearful, but I responded with a timid, "Okay, Lord." When I asked who would publish it and He whispered, "Focus on the Family," I said, "Okay, Lord, but You're going to have open the doors," wondering if I had heard right, but ready to trust and obey.

Though my trust in people and my belief of my own value and of ever being accepted again were shattered, I had just enough hope in the Lord to keep going in life. At the bottom of that pit, I looked up and saw Jesus. He smiled at me, threw me a rope and began to help me climb out. With each new foothold that brought me closer to the light, Jesus was working to heal me through the Word and the Holy Spirit. My God-confidence grew as I took hold of His promises and began to believe that He could do the impossible, greatest of which was the healing of my wounded heart.

I praise the Lord for what He has done for me:

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

(Psalm 40:1-3)

I still struggle sometimes with the fears and lies that ensnared me, but when I come back into the presence of Jesus and He reminds me of how beloved I am and how strong He is, I can rest secure.

If you can relate to being unimpressive, broken, and weak, be encouraged by what Paul learned from Jesus in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

But [Jesus] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In my weakness, knowing that Jesus can work powerfully in me, I can say as Isaiah did, "Here I am. Send me!" and guess what? So can you. What an honor and joy it is to be a child of God and to be used by Him!

(If you do not know Jesus yet and want to learn more, reach out to me - I would love to talk to you).

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Moldable In the Hands of the Potter

Heavenly, stirring, and uplifting are a few of the words to describe the song below by Casting Crowns. It reminds me that when we go through hard times, we have the choice to either become bitter or broken. A bitter person is hardened and inflexible, but a broken person is soft and pliable, ready for the Lord to mold and reshape into something stronger and more beautiful than they once were.

May you be moved as you listen to this song.

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Saving Nate: Choosing Life after a Devastating Prenatal Diagnosis

The long-awaited launch of my book is fast approaching! Click below to find out more or to preorder a copy.

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