Power To Share, Power To Trust

Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29, NIV

One summer when our family was traveling overseas, we had an especially trying day. We had been stuck in the airport and then the car for nearly the entire day. We couldn’t wait to arrive at our hotel. Needless to say, sharing the gospel was not the first thing on my mind.

When we arrived hot, tired, and dirty at our hotel, we were greeted by two older men at the front desk. We checked in and then asked them for recommendations on what to see in the area. “Our city isn’t known for anything,” one man replied. Since he seemed to be apologizing for it, I tried to encourage him. “Well, I saw a beautiful old church not far from here.”

“Yes, but I’m not interested in church and faith. I believe in only what I can see.”

My husband, Mark, said to the man that he sounded like Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, who expressed similar doubts. With my heart thumping, I trusted God to help me communicate the Good News to the hotel clerk in a sentence or two. It wasn’t perfect or fancy, but I proceeded to share the hope within me. John 20:29 seemed to be a verse written with him in mind.

I don’t know how God used my weak efforts, but I trust that He used His Word that I offered to nudge the man one step closer to Himself. God promises His Word will never return void.

I’m amazed that God is always ready to use us to share His love with others. It does not matter if we are weary and our thoughts aren’t connecting as clearly as when we are fully rested. God empowers us to offer His truth and trust Him to work—and to trust Him still today with the results, even though we may not ever see them.

Let’s pay attention to God’s divine appointments to share Him with others—even late at night in strange places. Trust that it isn’t up to us; we just need to be willing for Him to work through us. “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD” (Zechariah 4:6, NKJV).