Devotional Thursday – When You Think You Don’t Matter, Think Again

Do you ever feel insignificant, that what you say or do never really matters?  Do you sometimes wonder if you’ve ever made a difference in another person’s life?  Me, too.

Several weeks ago, I was at a writers meeting.  The gentleman sitting to my right was a stranger.  After introductions, for some odd reason, I spoke about something that had happened to me during my husband’s unemployment.  An acquaintance had told me, very bluntly, that my husband would never get another good job due to his age and his high level of achievement.  Upon hearing this negative statement, I told the person that they had no idea how powerful my God is or they would know that God is not restrained by a person’s age or achievements.

The gentleman to my right looked stunned.  “Cynthia, you have no idea how much your words just helped me.  I needed to hear what you just said in the worst kind of way.”

I couldn’t have been more surprised.  “Why?” I asked.

“Because I’ve been unemployed for a long time now, and I needed to hear that God is powerful enough to help me, too.”

I then told the gentleman that God did give my husband another good job, albeit months later, his new employer not concerned with my husband’s age but appreciative of his experience.  The man cried.  And I knew from my husband’s unemployment experiences that I was seeing tears of renewed hope.

I had just met this man minutes before and had no knowledge of his personal circumstances.  But God knew this man’s situation and He also knew that my reaction 18 months earlier to hurtful and discouraging words was exactly what this man needed to hear.

Just like Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose,” God took my experience from a difficult situation and used it to strengthen another person in need.

The truth is, you and I will never know how many lives we’ve touched when we live for Christ.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012