From early childhood, my mother would agree that I was one of the most timid
people you'd ever meet.
I was terrified to speak. Outside of family (my comfort zone), I often never
spoke.
Hiding behind my husband's coat tail for a number of years, he was good at
socializing. I just tagged along. Were it not for him, I'd have never gone in
the first place. I would have been too frozen to speak. Having him around took a
lot of pressure off me. If I thought of a few lines, fine. But, otherwise, I
could enjoy following as he mingled among the people, with maybe an occasional
smile or two.
When the opportunity came to not have to play the church piano or organ, but to
finally get to sing in a church choir, I was so grateful. Though I couldn't
speak the words, I could share my love for the Lord in song. It wasn't that I
never wanted to play again, because I did. It was just that I'd discovered a
greater ability to worship, making my heart the instrument.
As years came and went, growing in the Lord, God began showing me prophetic
things. Sometimes, those things were so wonderful I'd feel like I was about to
burst just to tell someone. When I'd attempt to share, people would immediately
quote scripture so fast I couldn't take it all in to even know if I agreed or
disagreed with their point. It was so intimidating, I'd close my mouth and just
slither away.
When messages came with urgency, I'd have to share 'do or die'. It's God's Word
to share such things or the blood will be upon your hands. Yet, because of their
unbelief, God gave me a stammering tongue so others wouldn't understand what I
was trying to express. It truly became a long term thorn in the flesh. I'd spend
hours, days, and weeks (and sometimes even months) just laboring to make one
important point in a way that others could finally get it.
Often feeling like I think the Apostle Paul must have felt, excellent in
knowledge but rude in speech, my words would often create unintended offences.
Being misunderstood became a hurtful way of life. Walking on eggs was a royal
pain, mostly on my part - never being aloud to be real. Retreating, I'd often
find comfort in expression through pen.
Having had the opportunity of first hand observance of some of the most
wonderfully gifted encouragers in the world, and the effect they had to lift up
people ... one day, God said, "Now, it's your turn." I couldn't speak! I'd
already promised God I'd go where He'd send me, "But, you know I can't speak!!!"
It isn't that I refused to go. I truly wanted to keep my word to God. But, if I
walked up to someone - my brain would go dead. Words seemed to vanish. "God, you
know that!"
God responded, "Well ... could you say that you like their tie?" I paused, then
responded, "It might kill me, but I 'can' say that."
After working up some courage, I walked up to the person God directed me to and
said energetically, "I really like that tie!" The guy seemed both startled and
surprised, as if no one had ever given him a compliment. He gave a big smile,
but his 'thank you', seemed to be the only thing he could figure out to say (as
if he'd never had opportunity to say it before).
Shew! I was glad that was over.
God showed me a lady, wearing a red dress. Passing in a church crowd, I made
mention of how nice that color looked on her. Her face lit up and her mouth flew
open. But, no words followed. It was as if no one had ever noticed before. She
was both pleased and speechless. But, moving on through the crowd, it didn't
leave time for her to feel pressured to respond. Though just for a brief moment,
it felt good to have made a difference.
Then God said, "See that lady over there? Go say something nice to her."
'Something nice' means I'd have to figure out what the compliment is. I looked
and saw she was wearing a pretty broach. I had the first line, but she filled in
all the rest. It's just amazing how people's faces would light up when someone
acknowledged their presence. All I had to do was speak first, then we'd find
amazing things to discuss.
Oh, man. This was so cool! Just say something to the person in need that God
shows you and stand back and see what He does with it. (Faithful is He who
called you, who also will do it.) Hey! God's Word works!!!! And sometimes, all
they need is someone to care that they came.
I was getting pretty good at this. Man this was a breeze. Just about that time
... God upped the ante.
"Now, I want you to go say something spiritual." Oh, no! Of all things, this
would be harder. "Bubububut, God, you didn't tell me what to say!" "Observe," He
said. "Find something nice to say about their ministry."
Every time I'd get comfortable, God would say, "Let's learn something else."
(Once, years ago, I was in a crowd and someone came from behind and touched my
shoulder to get my attention. Feeling something spiritual happen from head to
toe, I immediately had to turn and see who it was that touched me. It was so
awesome, I never forgot it. The only explanation I know of is that his spirit
transferred to mine.)
Again, God sent me with a message to another lady, before church was to start.
This one wasn't even a really big deal. It was just something she needed to be
informed of. But, she had a crowd gathered as she stood gabbing about the
weather. I waited patiently for at least 10 min. and it was almost time for
church to start, still not having gotten her attention.
I asked God what I was suppose to do. He said, "Remember the touch? Now it's
your turn. Reach up and ever so gently place your hand upon her shoulder, then
wait for her response."
The lady finished her sentence, turned around and spoke to me in such a spirit,
I think my knees almost melted. She ministered to me in such a miraculous way, I
was in awe. Her speech instantly moved from insignificant to spiritual. It was
so wonderful that I turned to see if anyone else had seen it. I almost said out
loud, "Did you see what God just did!?!" But, they didn't see. The crowd had
vanished. They'd missed a blessed opportunity to witness the Power of a Touch.
In big ways and little ways, I began practicing the things I'd learn. Whenever I
couldn't remember someone's name, which was most of the time, if I so much as
tapped their shoulder, they'd greet with an instant smile. I'd say, "Hi", to
people on the street - something they hadn't heard since years gone by (unless
they'd visited the South). I'd look to notice little things, in letting others
know their ministries were appreciated.
There's a verse that says the giver receives the greater blessing. I found it to
be very true, as these people would begin ministering to me! And, as someone
would begin to care about them, they were in turn multiplying seed by caring
about others.
My youngest daughter once said, "Mom, that is so weird, walking up and talking
to and helping people you don't even know." Could it be that this very thing of
encouraging others could even be contagious on the streets? I don't know, but
people are a lot kinder in our local stores than they were just a few years ago.
I never was able to be an encourager in the same way that others were. But, God
didn't call me to be someone else. And with each new step, I learned something
wonderful about God.
Next, He sent me to a visitation training program. Then I knew God had lost His
mind! But, I'd already promised I'd go wherever He called and I'd already gone
farther than ever imagined. (I didn't say I didn't dread it though.)
But, much to my amazement and appreciation, God didn't make me learn all the
perfect quotes and memorizations. I didn't have to practice how to intimidate
other people with scripture.
I failed the course, was accused of not submitting to authority, and was asked
to leave the class. God never promised there would be no pain. But even amidst a
hurt greater than I had ever known inside a church, not even good enough to
serve God, He gave me a very special promise. The words He'd written upon my
heart, He would bring to remembrance whenever I needed them.
God had something different in mind for me to learn ... how to minister, looking
to the needs of their heart. In my weakness, God became my strength. And, I
finally learned to speak by taking Baby Steps.
God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. I Co. 1:27-31
© by Joyce C. Lock dalox@comteck.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.