Who Will Shine My Light to Them?
I'm thrilled to share a guest post from my good friend Adam Weber. Adam is the pastor of a wonderful, thriving church called Embrace based out of Souix Falls, South Dakota. This is an excerpt from his new book "Talking With God," which releases everywhere on March 21. I thoroughly enjoyed his book - it is fun and easy to read, and full of wisdom to draw you near to God. You can pick it up at your local Walmart, Target, or order on amazon.
I’ve always been quite average. I was good enough at football that I wasn’t picked last during recess, but I was too short and slow to be a great athlete. I made the honor roll in high school but was never at the top of the class. And while I laboriously prepared solid speeches for my communications class, I always seemed to mumble the words during the delivery. In my appearance, gifts, skills, and expertise, I’ve always been average. Everything I could do, someone else could do much better.
When you feel ordinary, average, or less skilled, it’s always easier to play things safe, isn’t it? To blend in. Don’t raise your hand. Don’t step out. Take no chances. Don’t try to be used by God.
To be honest, “safe” is where I wanted to stay. Why risk failing if you don’t have to? Why take the chance of looking stupid if it’s not required? As a young person, I didn’t mind staying right where I was.
In the Bible, we see all kinds of ordinary people being used by God.
Some of them were actually below average in some ways. Abraham was too old. Moses stuttered. David had a moral failure. Lazarus was dead! Their stories are powerful accounts of God using average people for great things. But I still struggled to connect with them. Yes, they appeared to be quite average, but how average could they be if they’re mentioned in the Bible? I know I’m not mentioned in the Bible.
Within each of us, there’s a desire to be used by God. We want to take part in something great, to make a difference for good. We want our lives to matter. Ask a person, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” and long-kept dreams will flow out:
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. A doctor. A police officer.”
“I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
“My whole life, I’ve wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.”
“I have this desire to help people. I want my life to matter.”
When we think of “great things,” we typically picture a story that will make the news or get shared in a book. But I’m beginning to realize that with God, anything can be a big thing.
In the Bible, we see that through an act as simple as opening up our homes for guests, we might be entertaining angels. Just offering a person a glass of water is really an act of kindness toward Jesus himself. Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.
Looking back at my life, I’m amazed by how God continually prepares us for the question, “Whom shall I send?”
When I was a kid, my mom and I volunteered at a local nursing home each Wednesday. She played the music and we both sang for the folks living there. At first, I was terrified by the “old people.” They were excited to see me, but I was scared to death to see them. But as the people slowly wheel-chaired themselves into the room, Mom would begin playing the piano as I handed out the songbooks. Before long, I loved helping people find the right page so they could sing along.
I also didn’t like hospitals or funeral homes. They were depressing and smelled weird. As I walked past a hospital room, I always worried about what I’d see as I peeked in. During college, I heard about a flower shop that needed a delivery boy. I needed money during the summer, and I figured it couldn’t be that hard to deliver flowers. I had no idea that most of a flower shop’s deliveries go to hospitals and funeral homes. Many of the flowers sent to hospital rooms were ordered by loved ones who couldn’t be there in person. Before long, instead of dropping off the flowers and leaving, I often asked the patients how they were doing. Sometimes I commented on how pretty their flowers were and mentioned that I would be praying for them. Even though this was a small, simple gesture, I left feeling that I had made a difference in people’s day.
Who would have known that years later I would take a job that would require me to be comfortable in nursing homes, hospitals, and funeral homes?
With God, all things are big things.
He’s constantly at work, shaping and preparing us for the next adventure that will take us to the places we least expect.
The truth is, I’ve never been adequate. It’s been God the whole time. So there’s nothing different in what lies ahead. On my own, I am completely inadequate. If you need proof that God can use you, look no further. I’m your guy.
Feel inadequate? Lacking? Insufficient? Disqualified to be used?
We’re right where we need to be in order to be used by God. All we have to do is say yes.
When we’re willing to say yes to the small things, he’ll give us opportunities to say yes to big things. This is the story of my life.
Adam, will you follow me?
Yes.
Share your story at church as a junior in high school?
Yes.
Go to seminary even though you have a business degree?
Yes.
Start a church even though you think it’s crazy?
Yes.
Launch a second campus. And then a third, fourth, and fifth?
Yes.
Even though you’re not a writer and you have zero qualifications to write a book, write one?
Ummm… Yes, Lord.
Talking With God by Adam Weber is available everywhere on March 21, 2017
The best part is that when God does the impossible through average people, we clearly know it’s all God. It’s because of his abilities and not ours. Only he gets the credit. Only he gets the glory.
“Who will shine My light to them?” Jesus still asks.
Our simple prayer:
Here I am, Lord.
Adam Weber is the Lead Pastor of Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a ten-year-old church which has grown to six campuses in two states. He is the author of Talking With God. You can follow him @adamweber
