Explore Opportunities: Look at Your Life
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13)
As I’ve been following the story of the Malaysian Airlines plane that disappeared on its way to Beijing, my thoughts went back to a group of widows I spoke to a few weeks ago in Singapore.I half expected the group to be mainly older ladies who had lost their husbands after many years together, but that wasn’t the case. These precious widows spanned every age. They had lost their spouses through different illnesses and various kinds of accidents—including a plane accident.I had the privilege of meeting the lady who started the group and she shared her story with me. From what I recall, this caring ministry began after she lost her husband. A friend invited her to church and after some special experiences with the Lord, she became a Christian. God then gave her a desire to help other women dealing with the shock, loss, and adjustment of this difficult experience.As you consider how God might use your life experiences to help others, let me give you a brief list of possibilities—you can add your own.
Have you:
- Lost a family member or close friend to death?
- Lost a child to drugs, alcohol, other addictions?
- A child with special needs? Autism?
- Lost a child in a child-custody suit?
- Experienced an abortion?
- Experienced domestic violence or abuse as a child?
- Experienced divorce, abandonment, financial devastation?
- Been a single parent? Unemployed? Felt friendless and unwanted?
Ask Yourself:
- How did (does) God help me?
- How did (does) He give me courage, comfort, help, and healing?
- What practical ways to cope has He shown me?
Now Ask Yourself:
- How can I minister/give/serve other women who are experiencing what I have?Could you send a note or email? Give a hug? Stop and give time and a listening ear? Give a small gift? Take her out for coffee or a meal?
- Am I using what I’ve learned through my life to support others, or am I letting it go to waste?
- Romans 12:0 says: Be devoted to one another in “sisterly” love. What opportunities can you explore to show God’s reality and your love to others?
Next week I’ll share a personal story with you of how I explored an opportunity and what happened!
Let's Talk: I’d be excited to hear how you’ve touched others’ lives—respond on my FB or below!
This post is part of my Daring to DREAM series. Click here to view all the posts in this series.
Tweetables:"How might God use your life experiences to help others? @Choose2Grow gives a brief list of possibilities: http://wp.me/p2JdPr-R6" - Click here to tweet this."Have you found a way to minister to others who have gone through similar experiences as you? Share here: http://wp.me/p2JdPr-R6 @Choose2Grow" - Click here to tweet this.
Poppy SmithInternational speaker, multi-published author, Bible teacher, and spiritual coachInspiring Women to Thrive! Permission to use this article is granted provided the following credit is fully included.Poppy Smith is funny, warm, and passionate about helping women grow spiritually and personally so they experience the love and power of Christ in life’s ups and downs. A former teaching leader with Bible Study Fellowship, Poppy has a Masters in Spiritual Formation and ministers extensively as a retreat and conference speaker both in the US and around the world. For more information about Poppy’s heart, her books and ministry, please visit her website at www.poppysmith.com.