I had a conversation today with a remarkable young man. Five years ago, doctors found a brain tumor in his head. They operated on him to remove the mass, but after the surgery he slipped into a coma for several months. Long story short, after a long long struggle and many years, he lived to stand before me today. But there was one part of his incredible testimony that just about knocked the breath out of me. "I found Jesus because of that surgery," he said. "I would never change a thing of that period of my life, and if going through it again could bring me more of Jesus, I would do it all again in a heartbeat."
We are all full of all sorts of potential. No matter what our talents, gifts, abilities, or passions, I firmly believe that God has blessed every single person on this planet with the potential to be spectacular, the potential to make an eternal difference in God's kingdom. But potential is not the same as achievement. How many people do you know in your life who had such great potential, such wonderful opportunities, and they've done nothing with them? I know more than my fair share. Similarly, how many people do you know whom you would have never expected to do anything with their life, and by God's grace they have succeeded above and beyond anyone's expectations?
God is the developer of our potential. He is the One who knows us best - our weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and failures. And He is the only One who can make something of everything that we are - weaknesses and failures included. My friend has every reason to be angry at God and bitter at the world. I can't imagine going what he's gone through. But instead of running from God, he ran to Him, the Author and Perfector of his faith. And God has made more out of him than he could ever have been by himself. I pray that someday I can have a faith like his. Let God develop your potential. He's the only One who can make your life beautiful - even the ashes.
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
We are all full of all sorts of potential. No matter what our talents, gifts, abilities, or passions, I firmly believe that God has blessed every single person on this planet with the potential to be spectacular, the potential to make an eternal difference in God's kingdom. But potential is not the same as achievement. How many people do you know in your life who had such great potential, such wonderful opportunities, and they've done nothing with them? I know more than my fair share. Similarly, how many people do you know whom you would have never expected to do anything with their life, and by God's grace they have succeeded above and beyond anyone's expectations?
God is the developer of our potential. He is the One who knows us best - our weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and failures. And He is the only One who can make something of everything that we are - weaknesses and failures included. My friend has every reason to be angry at God and bitter at the world. I can't imagine going what he's gone through. But instead of running from God, he ran to Him, the Author and Perfector of his faith. And God has made more out of him than he could ever have been by himself. I pray that someday I can have a faith like his. Let God develop your potential. He's the only One who can make your life beautiful - even the ashes.
John 1:35-42
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteYou're such a great friend to have and such an amazing writer. It's been awesome getting to know you and I hope to get to know you a little more before you leave to Korea. God bless you!