I Said “Yes”

I was sitting across the table from what I can only describe as the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. At 74, Linda Frost Clark’s embedded love for the Lord radiates through her the way only someone who has known Jesus on a deep and personal level for many, many years could. We had lunch at her home in Dallas, and I listened carefully and attentively as she shared morsels of profound wisdom between bites.

For the last 20 years Linda has written and performed narratives of women in the Bible. When I asked her how many she had written, she said she had lost count. To Linda, these are not just characters in an ancient text, but her beloved friends, her “sisters,” as she described them.

I was so humbled to be graced with her hospitality and wisdom, specifically regarding ministry. At one point I told her my fears and reservations of pursuing my own calling. I expressed that I often don’t feel good enough for the task, or adequate compared to others. I often say as Moses did when the Lord called him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, “But I am not good enough God—use some else! Someone more talented!”

Linda’s response to my concerns surprised me. Instead of affirming my gifts and my abilities, she pointed to Christ in me. She said that there could have been far more talented actresses to perform these narratives, such as Meryl Streep, and yet God chose to use her because she said, “yes.”

I admire Linda’s character of faithfulness and obedience. The Lord has used her and continues to use her in big ways because she said, “yes.” It makes me wonder how God can use us if we emitted that same kind of obedience. Like Ruth, Rahab, and Esther, the Lord wants to use the most unlikely in the most unthinkable ways for His glory.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Truthfully, I believe God calls all of us in one way, shape, or form. He has gifted us with unique skills and talents that ultimately are to be used for His glory.” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#calling”] Yet many of us will never fully realize and see those giftings manifested in their full glory. We either get scared, or lazy or even worse, use our gifts for our own glory.

If you are like me, you can come up with a plethora of reasons why you are not fit for the task. I guarantee you that if you stepped out in faith, just a single baby step, you will see those reasons slowly melt away. When we can stop making it about us—how fit or unfit we are—we open the door for the Spirit to work in mysterious and miraculous ways.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

[easy-tweet tweet=”All are called, but only few will rise to the occasion. Will you say “yes” when He calls you?” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#calling”]

Visit Stephanie’s website and read more at www.wordsunfolding.com