Before I drew my first breath, my life was in trouble. Most babies emerge into the world crying, I emerged silent. My mom, having just endured hours of excruciating labor and then an emergency vertical C-section in a remote military hospital, was worried the moment she heard the silence. The delivery was not easy for either one of us and as a result, both of my lungs collapsed while she desperately tried to deliver me. Heartbreak was the first response to my arrival and yet God was not deterred with the severity of the situation. Instead, He used a doctor and a few nurses that day to save my life and help me breathe. That day wouldn’t be the last day God would use others to help me breathe again.
When I read Ephesians 2:10, I sometimes think about my crazy entrance into this world and wonder, did Satan know the plans God had for my life? Was he trying to stop the work God was going to do through me? I’m not sure, but I delight in knowing that before I took my first breath, God was there and He was not going to allow His plans for my life to be thwarted.
Not only did God go before me, but what I’ve seen through the years is how He has also equipped me for what He has called me to do. We know from Ephesians 2:8-9 that our salvation is by grace alone and not of works so that we cannot boast. Salvation is a free gift and not a transactional payment for our service to God. Understanding that God has gone before me, created me with just the personality, giftings, and passions to do some incredible work for Him not only excites me but humbles me at the same time.
Understanding that God has gone before me to prepare these good works in advance in my life and has equipped me for them helps me stand stronger and maybe be a little braver in the midst of my battles. Make no mistake, God knows our futures and He knows exactly what we need for the days which lay ahead.
Trust God on those days you don’t understand what is happening. Trust Him when anxiety fills your heart when you think about the future. Go back to what you know about God’s character and lean into the truth of who He is. You are not alone. God has specifically equipped you for this day, for this special time in history. Make Him your anchor and hold on tight. You are exactly the woman He wants to use right now to further His kingdom. He has prepared in advance this incredible work, at this exact time, and He has generously given you exactly what you need to play your part in the amazing redemption story which He is writing through our lives.
So stay in God’s Word, make Jesus your anchor, and walk forward in faith. God will place people along your path, like He did mine, to help you breathe when some battles get so fierce you can’t seem to catch your breath. Never forget that God has lovingly equipped you for the task at hand. He chose you for this amazing good work which will showcase His love and redemption to a watching world in desperate need of Jesus.
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