like an iceberg
What’s the most significant thing God did in you this year?
That’s what we asked the interns tonight. We didn’t want to hear about what He did through them or how He used them to impact others. We wanted to hear what He did inside them. And we heard some incredible answers:
I found who I am in Christ.
I moved from Christianity to an intimate relationship with God.
I realized I am worth something to Him.
I came to terms with stuff from my past and realized God’s redemptive power.
Wonderful things. And yet, Niel told the interns he wasn’t satisfied with their responses.
He challenged them to go deeper. We had the sense that though they were honest, they’d remained very surfacey. They didn’t share with openness and transparency, and if they couldn’t do that in this community of people, how could they expect to do so with people back home…
We talked some more, and then we opened the floor. We invited anyone who wanted to, to answer the question again. Tears flowed down my cheeks as many of them shared their fears, insecurities, doubts, and weaknesses. In complete and utter honesty they told us the specifics of how God had changed them—how He’s continuing to change them. It was such a holy moment.
So I want to leave you with the same question. You’re welcome to leave your answer in the comments. (I love when God chooses to use this platform for us to learn from each other and encourage one another’s walk.) If you’d rather not share your response here, I totally understand and respect that. Making time to still answer the question for yourself would definitely be worthwhile.
What’s the most significant thing God did in you this year?
God has allowed me to break free from other people’s expectations of how I should use my gifting in ministry. A massive burden has been lifted off and now God, not men call all the shots in my life.
If you want to read in more detail how I believe God is using me these days and why I rejoice in the way God made me, which I used to resent Him for before, then read my last post entitled “Is God behind blogging” @ http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
Blessings,
ransom33
He’s taught me how to see people better. And love people better. IE: not be so stuck up. I’m so glad He has. Thanks for asking this question. I’m already weepy from other posts, but it made me cry again.
@danielleH says:
What a question, I will have to ponder it for a bit.
What about you?
@cassgirl says:
He told me to be Heidi
He told me to be fierce and strong
He told me to be Heidi
He showed me that there is way to much of me, even if its in the Idea of Him, Its still way to much of Me.
Very Humble experience.
He taught me that He loves me always, regardless of how deep is my valley. It’s very comforting to know that I am firmly in His grasp, despite my secret doubts, endless questions, almost dismal prayer life and somewhat dusty Bible. It’s been a tough four years for me — most recently (in the past five weeks) the death of a close friend and the imminent death of my FIL.
I will be honest here because I see I need a new start, so I welcome any advice.
I can’t think of anything that God has done IN me this year and until just the other day I wouldn’t have thought He did anything THROUGH me either (I FINALLY told my friend that she needed to give her life to God and start living right after 4 years of watching her life fall apart, it was about time I said something, right??!!).
I know the reason He has not done anything in my life is because I have not allowed Him to. I have made myself preoccupied with family and friends and everyday life to allow God any time or room to do anything. I see that God has made my life just what I have always wanted and given me the desires of my heart, my life has been so perfect this past year that I have not felt the NEED to be with God. Now I haven’t turned my back on God but I haven’t been seeking Him either. isn’t that just as bad? I know I need to just stop and seek God or even start by reading my Bible again. Even in church I hold back during worship, no lifting hands no thinking to hard about the words that I sing, I feel Like if I give in to His pulling that I will loose it. I hate crying and I know if I give into Him I will break down. Also I think Dan has been in the same boat as me these past few years and I really just wish he would make the first step, I don’t want to be the spiritual leader in our family. We haven’t even talked about this stuff either. Anyways thats my story, I guess I know what I need to do. Thanks for listening.
That’ll take some chewing on.
I’m so glad you had transparency with your interns. What an incredible, healing thing.
I wish I could be there to hear these redemptive stories.
Though I get to see and hear God’s work in my girl’s lives often, and it’s an honor to be part of it in some small way.
Still.
He took fear off the table. I’m not even sure how it happened… but I think the extreme uncertainty of my life finally made it very clear.
Fear isn’t an option. It’s like He drew a line and said fear or ME. And I didn’t choose fear. And it was one of those fundamental changes where I know it’s just not an option. Everything has been taken away, and I trust Him. Period.
He showed me i am free from the mistakes, shame, burden, and the loathing of my not-so-distant past. He helped me travel light. He assured me that i am not damaged goods. He gave me the ability to love myself.
I can’t even put it into words.
i’ll be back on here later to say more, but waking up this morning to read all these comments was absolutely incredible.
absolutely.
I remember when Niel did that to us and how it angered me at firs that he would suggest that we were not being real but its funny looking back now that one question still in a way haunts me. In my own life i wonder if i am being surfacey and just giving the answer people want to hear or truly speaking what is on my heart and it made me look at that past year a lot more in depth. So thanks Niel for being honest and scary sometimes in a good way and you alece for challenging us not to be fake so that when we came home we could share something that was truly special :)
ashley
This whole year has been a year of growth for me. I held many grudges against people and without realizing it I because bitter, not necessarially towards that person. But any situation like the one I faced. I could not forgive people that had done me wrong in my past so I could not grow myself. God has tought me SO much this year [really this summer] I did a 180. I gave God my fears, failures, my vows, my forgiveness. I gave him ALL of me. He tought me that I am fearfully and WONDERFULLY made. Its not just something for everyone else..he loves ME. And He will never, ever leave me. This is something that I never really learned for myself because people had come and gone in my life so I didn’t know how to trust him fully. In doing that I was free. I became more confident and became the women God wanted me to be. Now I want to share the love and hope that I have. I am going to school in June because God gave me a new passion…i fell in Love with hospital ministry..so I am going to school for a career just like it!! God is so good! I would have never expected to grow and change the way I did!!
I was outside at work early in the morning..and a man was walking down the street..a rough looking sort ..and talking loudly to himself..cursing…and I remember saying to myself…’oh great I’m out here alone and there’s a psycho walking down the street” and instantly ..I heard/felt a voice inside me say “Is that what you think of him? it’s not what I think of him”…and I felt such shame …immediately I asked forgiveness and prayed for that man , instead…to find Christ dear to his heart..
And it taught me to randomly pray for others that I see out and about me…and not just save my prayers for close friends and family…or church members…but to pray for anyone/everyone I see out on the street…who might have no one else TO pray for them..
It greatly humbled me…
I love this question. Mainly because I generally do think in terms of how God used me rather than how God has changed me or touched me.
How he touched me this year… He is working on my pride. He is working on my actions. He is working on my inactions. I am a work in progress.
i reread all of these again tonight (when i should be sound asleep). they are all so powerful. i love the promise we’re given in the Bible about how we overcome by the word of our testimony. you guys are overcoming! thanks so much for opening your hearts to me, to us, here in your comments. i don’t take that lightly.
danielle, you asked me to answer the question, too. i think my answer would be this:
God showed me that i am worth intimacy. i am worth having people in my life who love me and trust me. and i believe that discovery has made me better able to love and trust others.
reading all of these has made me think, I like what Michael said “I am a work in progress”. Alece I am glad that God has shown you what He has this year, I love and trust you. Thanks for asking these hard questions and being a support.
thank you, faith.
and i concur. there were so many great nuggets throughout the comments:
break free
love people better
He told me to be [me]
way too much of me
He loves me always
He took fear off the table
i am not damaged goods
trust Him fully
He’s working in my action as well as inaction
powerful.
@cassgirl says:
I re read these comments, there are alot of nuggets and alot nudges to get soaked in His promises for us…
Inspired
@tamhodge says:
He revealed to me how very resentful i can be toward others who hurt me.
its not pretty.
its a hard revelation. but a needed one.
and in the same breath – He reminded me how He loves me regardless, and toooo much to let this go untouched.
sigh
He set me free from materialism… from caring so much about THINGS.
wow. so many. but I’d say a couple of big ones are he’s taught me that 1. no one else’s opinion of me matters but His. 2. When there’s no one else left standing by my side my mu husband, kids, and Him, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, eagle’s fly alone.
tam — you wrote “sigh”. … sigh.
katie — that is huge!
rachel — coming to the understanding of those things is so incredibly powerful.
@danielleH says:
alece,
good lesson. i think my lesson is on my blog – at least my most recent one.
I’m just getting around to commenting on this…. it took a few days of thinking.
I feel that one of the most significant thing God’s done in me this year is teaching me how to step out on faith. Even though the fear that is present might be screaming the opposite, it is all about what He’s told me to do. Even thought it’s not always easy, I’m learning not to let fears, whether brought on by myself or by others, rule my life and keep me from serving.
such a great lesson, jen.
it’s so incredible to me to read about how God’s working in all of you… thanks, guys, for sharing!
@atangie says:
Hi! :-)
So reading about this you and Neil have just gone up a rung of the coolness ladder. So great.
Thanks for sharing yours and encouraging others to share theirs.
This year for me has been about worth and coming to a place that I can say (and really believe) I am worth it.
@knights_lady says:
Three things:
1 ‘There was no mistake made in heaven when God gave you the gifts of leadership or teaching’
2 Trust Him for finances when you’ve come to the end of what you can do…
3 Proverbs 14.1 “ The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” – I don’t need to elaborate. An almighty – and necessary *blush* – kick in the pants.
Alece – would love to visit Thrive Africa sometime. If you’re ever in Jeffreys Bay, Mark and I would love to have you guys over for dinner.
Louise – you are always welcome. and i wish we HAD plans to cone to jay-bay! we may just need to make some!
#3 — wow. thank you. i needed that very same kick in the pants.