July 06, 2012 | Adventures Updates

Empowered Through The Hurt

2nd Timothy 1:7: " For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Early on this trip, Satan tried to use something from my past to bring me down. Instead of bringing me down, it empowered me. God told me he wanted me to share part of my testimony with the women. I was nervous but I also wanted to do it. God told me he would let me know when it was time. Last Sunday he told me it would be this week. I was going to tell my leader Brittany that I wanted to share. Funny thing is, before I talked to her, she asked if any of us wanted to share our testimonies this week. I shared at the bible study last night.

I talked about worth in Christ. And I shared a time when I was younger when I didn't find it through him. I talked to them about things I never thought I would have told on this trip, let alone to a room full of women. I told them that the very same hands that made the stars and moon made us beautiful and wonderful as well. I talked about how in 2nd Corinthians 3:17-18 it says that our faces reflect the Lord's glory, so how could we be anything but beautiful? God makes no mistakes.

God used the hurt, junk and shame from my past to bring light, hope and truth to these girls. God uses the bad and turns it into good. I really do believe that it really connected with the girls. I could see it on their faces. One girl cried. I don't think they ever expected me to say anything like that. I am so so thankful to God for pushing me and empowering me to be vulnerable with these women in a way I didn't expect.

These girls have been through horrific situations- which is how I met them. God has used them to teach me.They have taught my team and I so much about servant hood. They have taught me to love in a whole new way. They have taught me all the different ways you can love. God has taught me to trust instead of fear. He has taught me to depend on him instead of myself or my team mates. He has taught me that I can speak and I do have a voice. I would have never learned any of these things at this time if these girls had not gone through what they have and I had not met them. My heart breaks for what they have been through but I am also thankful to God that they are safe and that he is using them to test me and grow me. And I know he is also using me and my team to teach them as well.

God uses the bad, the heartbreaking, and the incomprehensible for his glory.