It was comical to watch. Even now, many years later, I chuckle when I replay those moments in my brain while I remember the excruciating discomfort my sister was experiencing.
It’s the time when my youngest sister Lori was trying to sell health and cleaning products from the booth at the county fair (better known, very fondly, as the Fertile Fair).
The back story:
In addition to teaching and farming, mom and dad had a successful direct sales business. Mom really managed the business, and she invited, encouraged, expected my sisters and me to help in her product booth at the fair. We did this very reluctantly. We were teenagers and it just seemed so uncool.
Lori really did not like this idea. Not. At. All.
But when it was her turn to help in the booth, she showed up. Unfortunately, no one knew it.
Lori’s idea of trying to get people interested in looking at the products was to stand behind the table as people walked by, whispering, Would you like to try a sample? No eye contact. No invitation that could actually get someone’s attention. Every physical part of her body screamed, Please don’t stop. Keep walking. Pretend I’m not here.
She had something good to share, but she had a very unique way of telling others about it.
Oh, how many times do we do this? Stop short of sharing a good message? Missing God-nudged opportunities that just might be the breath of fresh air a friend needs?
We’ve got a word of encouragement for someone, but we are afraid to assume. We don’t want to look silly or “be out of line.” A talent that is hidden deep in insecurities but is longing to find its opportunity is stuffed down because we don’t think we are ready. A new recipe that looks scrumptious, but we are scared it might flop or give someone food poisoning. (OK. That last one was for me.)
But instead of sharing it—to even one person—we stand on the sidelines and hope no one will notice us.
Lean in here for a moment …
Because of Jesus … We were created to be bigger than our perceived smallness. More powerful than our assumed weakness. More influential than our insecurities.
That doesn’t mean that we enter a room or event shouting. Banging pots and pans to get noticed. Screaming our message.
It means that we simply need to show up in obedience to God’s prompting. And make sure our message is heard by the audience we share it with.
Here’s a promise straight from the heart of The One who gives us the message:
Exodus 4:10-12 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Isn’t it time that we were just a little bolder? Or a whole lot bolder? That we stopped acting as though everyone else was better and more … you can fill-in-the-blank? That we stopped setting aside our God-breathed gifts in the name of insecurity?
You have a voice. A message. It might be for one person, several, a community, the world. Start using it. You were created with skills and talents that are uniquely yours. No one else can show up and be you.
It’s OK for your message to be heard. You are not responsible for the results…you are responsible for sharing it.
In my book, “Anticipate God’s Goodness,” I wrote a chapter called “The Waiting Room.” (The message: Today is not just a waiting room day.) Here’s a statement that I wrote because I needed to remember it:
God has not called me to be scared or lazy.
Jess Connolly wrote a very encouraging and call-to-action book, You Are the Girl for the Job.
“Who is already listening to you? Don’t you dare say nobody. Because the truth is that you interact with people every single day who are paying attention to your every move, learning from what you do and say, and they are undoubtedly impacted by you.
As long as people can hear your voice, read your body language, get your emails, or receive your text messages, they’re listening to you.”
Show up. Speak up. Share your message.
P.S. If you’re looking for encouragement, the nudge, or push, or shove to get up and go, get Jess Connolly’s book. You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You is timely, relevant and the encouragement we need. Highly recommend it.
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase a product through these links, your cost will be the same, but I may receive a commission. I only link to books and products I personally love!
