Undaunted Aftermath

This is only my fourth blog post and it has taken me a while to settle on a topic.  One of the desired themes for this blog is conviction.  The good kind of conviction that pushes myself and others to strive for better- better people, better relationships with God, better community members, better.  This kind of conviction is encouragement’s no-nonsense older brother, but at its core is still encouragement!  This post is about how God is convicting me in recent months and encouraging you to give God the opportunity to work in your heart. 

I have been reading Undaunted by Christine Caine.  I usually do not get excited about “women’s books” and was only fulfilling an obligation the first time I picked it up.  But WOW, this book was so perfect for the season of life I am in.  God used this book to speak truth into my life, reinforce convictions, and encourage me to take the next steps in the things He is calling me to. 

In the book, Christine Caine describes many of her personal trials and experiences and how God has used her unique experiences to equip her for ministry.  Her words challenged me to look at my own life experiences and the tools and resources God is providing me.  Each of us has a unique story.  No one else has lived your life, suffered your pain, and overcome every obstacle you have faced.  We each have unique skills and experiences to offer for the work of the Kingdom. 

We also each have a long list of legitimate excuses to keep treading through life doing what we know.  We say, ‘now is not the season,’ or ‘someone else is more qualified,’ or ‘I don’t have the resources.’  Yes, we have obligations and responsibilities, but as believers we have something bigger and more important than obligations and responsibilities.  WE HAVE A PURPOSE!  Our purpose in life is to glorify God and further the Kingdom, fulfilling the great commission in every way we possibly can.  Our purpose is serving a God who is much bigger than any of our limitations.

Christine Caine has dedicated her life and ministry to helping victims of sex-trafficking and preventing future victims from falling into its trap (A21 Campaign Link).  God has burdened my heart over generational poverty- family trees that are not growing to new heights, but rather keep repeating patterns and living below the poverty line.  I have historically had a heart for loving kids from this type of background, but have recently lifted my eyes off of the lives of the individual kids and gained a new perspective on the larger problem. God has planted several BIG ideas in my heart, and it is intimidating.  It feels almost foolish when I tell people about just a few of these dreams, because they are SO far beyond my own capabilities.  But my God is capable, and He is faithful. 

I have never doubted that God would provide for my basic needs- food, shelter, clothing, etc.  Zero doubt there, but when He calls me to do something big for his glory, then I start questioning his ability to provide for those needs.  I have a track record of being overconfident and thinking I can do anything, but these ideas are so BIG, they even have me second guessing myself.  Just one of these ideas could take a lifetime to bring into fruition and would leave an incredible legacy, and yet God has planted multiple ideas on my heart. 

One of my favorite quotes from Undaunted reads, “God doesn’t call the qualified.  He qualifies the called.” …Being called and UNqualified is daunting to say the least.  Telling those I deeply respect that I know God has called me to it and I know God will do it, is an incredibly difficult internal struggle and has not yet gotten easier with practice.  But I know these are baby steps in demonstrating faith and obedience.  As I take these baby steps, God is already showing me his faithfulness and his ability to provide for my needs before I even know what the needs are.

These are MY convictions, what are yours?  How have your experiences uniquely equipped you to minister to the needs of others?  Is there a social injustice that has burdened your heart but your excuses have kept you from trying to make a difference?  Have you dared to think what it might look like if you let God use your life to make an impact in this area?  Have you made the bold step to tell anyone else about the work God is doing in your heart? I encourage any Christian to read this book.  It has the potential take you from a state of indifference to desiring to be more intentional in your life.  It will take that idea in the back of your mind (maybe a little crazy, maybe a little bit too big or too far-fetched), it will bring it to the forefront of your mind and push you to begin to identify ways to make it a reality.  These are MY convictions, what are yours? 

A few quotes from “Undaunted”:

“If we allow other people to tell us what we are and are not qualified to do, we will limit what God wants to do with us.  We may never get to those who need our help.”

“We achieve the impossible by focusing on the God with whom all things are possible.”

“…God doesn’t command us to be supermen.  He commands us to be willing.  He’ll do the rest.”

“Compassion is only emotion- until you cross the street.”

“...while we may think we don’t have enough time, money, resources, or know-how for the task, God will use what we have.”

“Allow God to continually soften your heart so that it beats for what his heart beats for- people.”

“If it were easy, then it would already be done.”

“God is in the business of making miracles where humans fail.”

“Don’t let Difficulty keep you from daring to go where God wants you to go.  God will make a way.”