Follow the Leader

“I must be the worst evangelist in the world,” I thought, as worry knitted itself inside of me. In church, I preferred being at the back, behind the scenes. Everyone around me was confident, talkative, and quickly put themselves on the frontline. I had heard
about the Holy Spirit transforming the disciples from quivering cowards to strong, bold preachers…but still my mouth was clamped shut.

I wore my Christianity inside and avoided the limelight. I didn’t vocalize my beliefs because I was acutely aware that many people treated faith with derision and ridicule. Sometimes, I felt entirely alone, surrounded by worshipers in church who were not in my age group and wondering what on earth I could possibly have to offer others if I wasn’t prepared to open my mouth. What could I do to reveal God’s love for us, to share how He sent His Son, Jesus, to heal the broken relationship we had with Him?

It was then that I discovered—while I might not shout out in prayer, preaching, or singing—I loved reading and knew the written word had the power to change lives. My gift wasn’t to try and be like everyone else. They had their skillset, and I had mine.

My inner panic was slowly unlocked, and I found a freedom to express myself through writing what was in my heart. Joy filled up inside of me when I realized I could do something after all. You can too. If, like me, you are worried about speaking out, you don’t need to feel guilty or afraid. God’s love for you doesn’t depend on what you do, and He invites you to rest in His love and rely on His strength to use the gifts He has given you. The way we all preach is through loving the people around us, no matter what we happen to be doing at the time. There are different ways of speaking, preaching, and professing your faith. Maybe you will speak up through art, dance, acts of kindness, or having a quiet strength through adversity. Don’t chase what isn’t yours, but catch the skills our loving Father has given you. • Cindy Lee

• Do you ever feel like it isn’t okay to be quiet? God made some of us to be naturally quiet, and He invites all of us to be quiet sometimes. It’s good to take time to think and reflect.

• If you are naturally loud and extroverted, how could you support the quieter people in your life? Consider asking them, and remember to take time to listen to their ideas.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Rom.8.14|Ps.25.1-Ps.25.11