GOD CAN USE OUR DARKEST MOMENTS FOR GOOD
Lanita Lopez
Key Scripture: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” —Psalm 23:1
My family was going through one of the scariest seasons of our lives. My abusive marriage was coming to an end. My body was crippled from depression. I spent most days sobbing in bed. One day, as I laid in the thick of depression and pain I mustered up just enough strength to roll from the bed to the ground.
As I laid on the ground, I tucked my knees below me and folded my hands into prayer. I cried out to God, “God, please see us through this. I promise to serve you for eternity, I promise to give my life to you.” In that very moment, I felt all my crippling depression, worries and anxieties supernaturally lifted. The Holy Spirit was within me and guiding me. I believe that the power of God picked me up from my knees and gave my family new life.
I have always felt called to share my story so I could help the women next to me. I openly share about my abusive relationship with my ex-husband. The reason that I keep doing this is so that other women who are entrenched in abusive situations feel seen, known and maybe not so alone. I hope that through my vulnerability other women can be brave enough to get help and find freedom from their abusers.
Before God gave me a new life, I was always so afraid to share my story and my faith. I just didn’t know exactly what to say. I was discouraged because when I’ve shared the gospel nothing happened; people weren’t miraculously committing their lives to Christ. Was I doing something wrong? Have you ever felt that way?
I’ve had to learn that I can’t open someone’s heart to the truth of the gospel—but God can, by His Spirit. The Apostle Paul wasn’t eloquent, but God used him because he depended on the Holy Spirit to guide him (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
God guided many others in the Bible as well—like Moses, who at first asked God to get someone else to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, or Jonah, who didn’t think the wicked Ninevites deserved God’s mercy and tried to run the other way.
It helps me to remember that God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. As Christians, we are all called to share what Christ has done. I learned that when sharing my faith in the Lord that I had to start speaking through him not just about him. Some of Christ’s last words on earth were, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Sharing our faith isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a command.
God is with us when we obey Him, even if we do it afraid, even if our words aren’t eloquent, even if our stories are messy and complicated. When people start questioning my faith, I tell them one of the million stories of how God has seen me through the darkest moments of my life. I bet you have a story like that. Today I want to encourage you to get brave and start sharing it. You can do it!
Steps of Faith: Thank you, Lord, that you met me at my lowest moment, and sent the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. Give me the courage to share my story of hope and healing with my friends and family. Lord, show me how to be a light to those around me and that light would point others to you. Amen.
Deeper Walk Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalms 23
