Many years
ago when my daughter was young, we would spend Wednesday evenings at church for
mid-week Sunday school. I would stay to help with her rather large preschool
class—not really because I wanted to, but because the church was a bit of a
drive from home and it was easier to stay.
One
Wednesday, I received a call from the children’s ministry director. She said
the teacher for the preschool class was sick and asked if I would teach the
class that night. She probably explained what the lesson was for that night,
but I don’t remember that part of the conversation. What I do remember is the
panic I felt as I agreed to fill in.
Let me tell
you, this was far outside of my comfort zone. So far that I don’t think I could
even see it from the edge of my comfort zone.
I barely had
enough patience for my one child, much less a room full of children. Did I
mention this was a preschool class? A large preschool class—ages 2-5? Attention
spans were all over the place, including mine.
As I hung up
the phone wondering why I couldn’t think of an excuse to say no quick enough, I
remembered something. Just the previous night I’d had a dream—a dream that this
director called me just hours before the class and asked me to teach that
night.
I hadn’t
thought about the dream until that moment of stunned silence. I knew there was
no way this was a coincidence. This was
God warning preparing me for this challenge.
I distinctly
remember the thought that gave me confidence that night. The thought I spoke
aloud as I surrendered to Him.
God, if You think I can do this…then I must be able to do it.
After all,
God knows better than I do.
Was I
nervous? Yes. Stressed out? Most likely. Looking forward to it? Probably not. And
yet, it felt different.
I had a
confidence that didn’t come from me. It was from Him.
God had the confidence I didn’t have, and
when I chose to trust Him, His confidence covered me. {Tweet this}
All
afternoon, I reminded myself that God knew I could do this. What I
thought didn’t matter. I knew He would be there with me.
I don’t
remember that night’s class at all, but I know I got through it. And I remember
telling the director about the dream and seeing her look of awe.
As I look
back, I realize now that it was the first time I can remember when I stepped
forward in faith to do something I would never have volunteered to do. God
wasn’t calling me to be a teacher.
He
was teaching me to trust Him and walk in faith.
And when you
follow Him once into the uncomfortable unknown, each time after that gets a
little easier.
*****
If you are reading Fulfilled by Danise Jurado with us, we are in week 4 with Chapter
6—Identity and Chapter 7—Confidence. The pages of my book are filled with
underlined parts I don’t want to forget, along with notes and little stars next
to Scripture verses.
How are you doing with the reading? What
specific parts have grabbed your attention, and maybe kept you thinking about
it for days?
In Christ,
Linking up with #TellHisStory, #RaRaLinkup, Thought Provoking Thursday, Everyday Jesus, Faith Filled Friday, Grace & Truth, Faith 'n Friends, Weekend Whispers
What a great story, and that's just amazing about your dream. There's a Relient K song that says "I think I can't, but I think you can. I gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands". I often think those lyrics to myself when faced with these situations. I love that God cares about challenging us and helping us see all the things we can do through Him.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute story to remind us of trusting in Him! I'm so glad I stopped by from #FaithFilledFriday! This was the first time I have been to your blog and I am thankful for a new friend!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Great testimony of obedience and paying attention to the nudge from the Lord. Thanks for sharing your story. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteSo cool! "If you follow Him once into the uncomfortable unknown, each time it gets a little easier." When He has proven Himself faithful, and He always does, we learn to trust Him. Such a great story. I was your neighbor at Weekend Whispers! ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I'm not being asked to teach a class, but The Lord is impressing something on my heart and I'm trying hard not to resist Him. The comfort zone is blown though. I'll follow your lead and prayerfully I can do it too! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Grace & Truth this week! I've chosen your post as my featured post!
God bless,
Jenn