I have a confession to make (and what better place to share it than on social media, right?) Several weeks ago, I shared how I was asked to consider a position. Part one of my confession is that I quickly declined without even thinking or praying about it. The next day, when a friend said she hesitated to step up in her sphere of influence, I immediately encouraged her to remember her identity as daughter of the King and take a step of courage into the unknown. Part two of my confession is that I wasn’t practicing what I was preaching.

So as luck would have it, I found myself being asked to prayerfully consider the position again. Not wanting to say no a second time, I said that I would pray about it.  And just a few days later, as I was chatting with some ladies, the opening of the position came up in discussion and I quickly, yet subtly exited the conversation. Except one of the ladies noticed and didn’t let me off the hook that easily and invited me back into the conversation. As we chatted, I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking directly through this wise woman. I walked away from the conversation knowing that I really had to give some serious thought to this decision. But I was dealing with a struggle.

When visiting with another friend a few days later, we were talking about our plans for the future. When I mentioned that I was asked to pray about this position, I shared my lingering struggle: “But I don’t feel qualified.” With a look of compassion, my sweet friend said,

“None of us are qualified. This is about your loaves and fishes. Are you willing to give what you have and let the Lord multiply it?”

As I stood in her kitchen with tears in my eyes, she told me about a true story that her Pastor recently shared in a sermon. A poor boy had stumbled into the back of a church when he heard the preacher speaking about giving what you have and the blessing it will yield. The preacher based it on the parable of the little boy who shared his lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish, as found in John 6:1-14, which Jesus blessed and multiplied to feed over 5,000 people. After the preacher spoke, the basket was passed around the church and when the basket reached the front, the young boy was seated in it. He didn’t have any money to give, so he gave what he did have: himself. By this time, tears were streaming down my cheeks because I knew the Holy Spirit was nudging my heart through yet another wise woman.

I am grateful for the many blessings that unfolded in this journey: being pursued by God, obedient vessels to impart wisdom, and for the reminder that in this world, we will have struggles but Jesus has overcome (John 16:33).

However, the most important revelation for me from this experience is what God is asking each of us: What is in our basket? Are we willing to surrender what “little” we have? Will we trust that God can bless what we offer and use it in an amazing way for His glory? Whether at school, work, church, or at home, may the following words to “Have it All” by Bethel Music be the cry of our heart:

“You can have it all, Lord
Every part of my world
Take this life and breathe on
This heart that is now Yours”

And for those of you wondering what I have done with all these words of encouragement, well I have been praying, observing others in similar positions, asking lots of questions, and feeling ready to take the plunge. How it unfolds from here is in God’s hands.

~Joyce