I come from a Godly home, but it was certainly not perfect, is there such a home? As I started out in college I went down the path many young people travel. Church attendance drops and God is substituted with worldly ventures. One day I woke up in a cloud of depression with God pulling me towards Himself. As Christians, God will allow us free will, but there are always consequences. For me, I became debilitated with depression until I chose to walk in God’s ordained path for my life.
If you know me, I love hard, have a loud mouth, and often don’t sensor my thoughts. I am silly, stubborn and get anxious when events don’t go the way I imagined. I seek approval of others and want everyone around me to be happy. I often get told that I am not a typical pastor’s wife. But what does that mean? I would venture to say that there is no such thing as a typical pastor’s wife. We are all called to serve the Lord and the church. God knows our faults, our sins, our struggles, we are all sinners that God has selected to use to spread the Gospel on earth. What a daunting honor.
With all my imperfections how can I serve our amazing, living God in such a way that will glorify Him? I do my best with God’s strength. I try to share the joy I feel from the Lord in a genuine way. Do people read my intentions wrong? Do I come across as insincere? I honestly don’t know. I struggle with my self worth and my ability. Yet God constantly brings people across my path to share His love and encourage them in their walk with Christ.
I am not a perfect example of anything. But are any of us really? Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And because of this mercy the Lord tells us to, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11
I would venture to say that I am more like the regular church attender than others realize. God has just happened to call our family into a leadership role. My children whine, fight, complain, and I grumble. Some mornings, I am so tired I could absolutely sleep through church. I worry about what other church members think about me and if I am even an effective tool of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:1-3 states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
My friends, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 Don’t let fear, discouragement or lack of self-confidence influence your ability to speak truth into other’s lives. Be the preacher’s wife in someone else’s life. An imperfect, saved by grace (flamboyant) person who wants others to know about Jesus’ saving love. Be bold in your faith and see how God will use your gifts and abilities that are unique to yourself. Do not let Satan discredit your effectiveness but claim Christ in victory.