How is God using your today to prepare and purpose your tomorrow?

Today’s guest post is written by Rhonda James…

Am I qualified for this?

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Why is it so hard to believe this statement? Maybe it’s because we want to be in control. Or could it that it’s easy to overlook how God has his hand in every aspect of our lives?

I know this can be true for me.

For six years I served as the women’s Ministry Leader at my church. I love helping women connect and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Christ. I felt blessed to serve in this role and I knew that God had placed me there, but I wanted more. I wanted to make a difference. Who hasn’t said that before? I wanted to be able to reach more women, to help teach them and lift them up as leaders in women’s ministry, but I wasn’t sure I was qualified. Who was I to lead others? I prayed for years for God to make a way and give me a purpose.

In the fall of 2011, I was home recuperating from hand surgery, and I had reached a very low point. I was feeling sorry for myself and truly doubting my capabilities. I didn’t feel well, couldn’t use my right hand, and honestly wasn’t sure if I would fully regain use of my hand after recovery. Just then, the phone rang and the conversation that followed changed my life.

“Are you sure you want me? I’m just a volunteer ministry leader. I’m not sure that I am qualified to train women to start a ministry! Okay, well I look forward to meeting everyone! Thank you!”

What just happened? Can I do this? This is so cool! God is amazing! A million things seemed to run through my mind. I had just been asked to be a part of a team of women that travels to churches and trains and encourages women in their ministry. This is what I had always wanted. I would finally have a chance to help make a difference in women’s lives on a larger scale. Was this really happening? God heard my prayers and knew my hearts deepest desires. While I was leading a ministry and believing that I was just a woman volunteering her time He was preparing me for greater things. When I was at my lowest point and filled with self-doubt He heard my cry and had a plan for my life.

It can be so easy to believe that if God doesn’t answer our prayers the moment we think they should be then He must not want that for us, or that He doesn’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth! God has a plan for us. Each one of us has a purpose, whether big or small, we are important to Him. How cool is that!

My dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58

How is God using your today to prepare and purpose your tomorrow?

Rhonda serves as an Administrator at her church. She also has the privilege of serving with Group Publishing as a part of their Women’s Ministry Training Team. She lives on a small farm in Dexter, MI with her husband Dan and their two teenagers, Taylor and David. She loves to cook, garden, shop for purses, and writing on her blog  http://jamesfamilyfarm.weebly.com/

(The current Preparation series is intended to help you look for, notice, and acknowledge God working in your life. At the end of the month, I’ll give away a free ticket to the Living Proof Live with Beth Moore event in Springfield, IL, October 25-26, 2013. All you have to do to qualify for the free ticket drawing is to comment on one or more blog posts throughout the month of March. The ticket will be given away on April 1st (and it’s not an April Fools joke!). (If you live too far away to attend the event, I have an alternate giveaway and will then pass along the ticket to someone else.)