I recently began an internship at a nonprofit ministry organization. I work in the pregnancy center, where I interact with many clients who need resources like clothes, diapers, and food for their kids. And let me tell you, when I was first told that I would be helping these people, I was nervous and felt very disqualified.
I thought to myself how could a 21 year old college student who has never had a kid, help these individuals? What type of comfort could I provide? I thought they would probably just look at me and scoff, thinking I had no idea what they could possibly be feeling or experiencing.
I have to remind myself that these thoughts are not from God. They are from my own insecurities and they are from satan.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10
At first, I really let these thoughts affect my interactions with people. I would tell the other workers to please help the next person, as I was too scared and clearly did not believe in myself. After a few weeks, however, I asked God for help and I found confidence in Him. Knowing that the spirit was with me, I began to involve myself in the lives of the clients and I started to ask if I could pray for them.
God removed the spirit of fear and He put in me a spirit of courage and boldness. He also reminded me that He placed me at this internship, with these people for a reason, a reason that is beyond myself. I also realized that God is the only one who saves, He is the only one who can really transform someone’s life, it is not up to me, and that is not my burden to carry.
So, despite my lack of experience and my weaknesses, God can and is still using me. I may not know what to say to these people, I may not know how to help or comfort them, but I can pray for them. God knows their needs, He knows the ways in which they are struggling. So, I trust that God will provide and care for them and when I don’t know what to say to them, I tell them the truth, that we were created by a magnificent God, a God who cares, a God who is compassionate, and by a God whose love for them is so strong, it’s unfathomable.
Through this internship opportunity, the Lord is helping me see the value of every individual. I have prayed for Him to help me love them like He does, to view every person like He does and He has been answering. My love for people has grown immensely, and it is all because of God. I have already had so many fulfilling, impactful, and meaningful moments with complete strangers, who are struggling, who need help, who need support, who need love and most importantly who need Jesus. There is only so much that we can do to help others. So, that’s why prayer is so important – when we pray, God works. God can perform amazing miracles in a matter of seconds, He can do more for one individual in 1 second, than we would ever do for them in our entire lifetime.
I wish I could just tell everyone, all the time, how valuable, how important, and how loved they are. I wish I could sit down and tell them that they have a purpose, God has a plan, God can redeem their situation. There is so much joy, hope, and satisfaction through Jesus. I may seem like a crazy zealot if I were to ever say that to someone I had just met, but, I still pray that I become so unashamed, so fearless in my faith, that I would say this, that I would share the gospel so courageously to anyone I had met.
I’ll take one step at a time and begin by praying.
You may have experienced something similar – at your job, at your internship, in your classes, in your family, etc. Do not believe the lies and the negative thoughts that enter your mind. Ask God for help to resist these lies and fight them with the truth. Honestly, I still struggle with the lies that I am not qualified, that I don’t have enough wisdom, that I am too inexperienced in my faith to pour into others, etc. But I am trusting that God has me right where He wants me and He wants to use me.
You may have heard this said many times: “God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” ~Mark Batterson
I believe it is true. We are not chosen because of our own righteousness, because of our own power, because of own abilities, we are chosen because of God’s grace and love. Trust where God has placed you and allow His spirit to speak through you into the lives of others.
But he 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.
2 Corinthians 12:9
After I pray for the individuals that come into the pregnancy center, I look up into their eyes and I see how grateful they are for our help and for my prayers. Those initial lies that were preventing me from interacting with them vanish and I realize that I can help just by praying and expressing my care for them. It really is a beautiful thing, when God can bring people together through prayer and when you can feel the presence of God in the room.
Just 5-10 minutes beforehand, we were complete strangers, but I believe that every person who comes into the center, was brought there by God for a reason. Soon after I ask if and what I can be praying for, they will share what is on their heart and be extremely vulnerable with me. It is such a special moment and I thank God for every moment I share with these people.
Thank you for reading and have a blessed day,
Olivia Butler (:
Liv(e)forChrist 