WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
We just got through graduation season. It’s always fun to see the recent graduate’s excitement for the new chapters that are ahead. I remember when I graduated back in 1989. It was a fun-filled summer. My wife and I aren’t native Iowans. We grew up in what my wife refers to as ‘the suburbs of the suburbs of Detroit.” It was very laid back. I worked with my best friend at a job that was super fun and relaxed. All of my best friends and I played basketball at night with our cars lined up next to the court, lighting it up with our headlights. In other words, life was carefree and fun.
In the fall, I went to school in downtown Chicago at Moody Bible Institute and that carefree and fun life disappeared. I went from fun and relaxed to a struggling student who realized I still had a lot of growing to do in many areas, including my faith. It’s funny, I left Moody over 30 years ago, but there is still one event that I remember as if it happened last week. I was sitting in the commons area outside the dorms with some friends and a gentleman from a neighboring public housing community walked up to us and started a conversation. I was uncomfortable and uneasy. I didn’t have much interaction with people unlike myself growing up. He was a bit gruff and forward with his speech and opinions, but we listened. Given the fact of where we were, the conversation naturally shifted to those of a spiritual matter and the gentleman started asking us questions similar to:
- Why do you believe in God?
- Why is your faith so important to you?
- If God is so good, then why does he allow…?
I don’t even remember who I was standing with but they started answering the man. Phew! I was off the hook! But then I was asked directly by our guest what I thought. Scared, I stammered a bit but then it happened. The words I was struggling to put together made complete sense. I was communicating clearly what I thought for sure would come out backward and confusing. At the end of the conversation, I remember that man said “Yes” to Jesus’ invitation.
One day not too long ago I was in the Word and read a piece of scripture that instantly took me to this story. Matthew 10:18-20 reads, “You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.” Now I know the chance of being stood in front of anyone in any governmental capacity to give testimony is close to zero, but we often have opportunities pop up when we can engage with others and speak of God’s goodness. There will also be times when we know we could be put in a difficult situation where hard-to-answer questions may be asked. Knowing that Jesus’ promise that “the Spirit of your Father” will be speaking through us, should give us the confidence to enter those times without fear or trepidation.
Holy Father, words cannot express the gratitude for knowing that your promises are true. They are not empty words or antiquated passages as our enemy wants us to believe. We claim your promises as true! As we read your promise to speak through us, may we shed our fears and inhibitions and enter those situations with heavenly confidence. May you get the glory in these times. In your name, Amen.
- What about you? Do you feel like I once did? That you’re not prepared? That you don’t know enough? Stand firm in the promise that He will speak through you.
- I would encourage you to ask God to put you in a situation that will stretch you in this. It may not be something extra large like testifying to Congress, but maybe it starts with a conversation with a friend. As He continues to show this promise to be true in your life, your apprehensiveness towards this will continually decrease. He is faithful!
