On a train journey yesterday, I was confused when my friend suddenly jumped up, pulled me to my feet and said that we needed to get off. It wasn’t our station so what was going on? We waited for the next train and got on it but after a second or two we were back on the platform and following a big crowd to the exit. I was thoroughly confused but eventually realised there’d been an announcement that certain stations had suddenly been closed and passengers told they’d have to walk.
Being deaf I’d heard no announcements and if I’d been on my own I would have stayed sitting on the first train and probably panicked about what might be happening. My friend wasn’t familiar with the station but being able to hear, knew what had been said, so I relied on him to take correct action. He was also able to find his way to the station we needed, but because I am visually impaired and struggle with following maps, I wouldn’t have managed well at all.
This made me realise afresh how important we are to one another. We all have weaknesses but we also all have strengths. Feeling part of others and that we belong is a primal need because God has created us to be intrinsically linked together. Paul describes us as a body, saying that every part needs the other. Nobody could function if we were all an eye or an ear, and every part has a vital role to play. (1 Corinthians 12:12)
If you are feeling grieved today because of things in your life that you perceive as weaknesses, ask God to show you how he sees you. It may be that he just wants you to rise up in his strength? For example, I love the grace and beauty of Christian dance but never felt I could do it as I am so clumsy in my movements and can’t hear music. But God saw things differently and I’ve now been leading dance workshops for the last 30 years and many people with disabilities or shyness have come who may never have attempted it if their leader had been all able. God gave me amazing strength in my weakness.
Conversely, he may want to bring great blessing to someone who can connect into your area of weakness with their area of strength like my friend did on the train. When that happens, a beautiful inter-connection is created, like a jigsaw puzzle where each part fits into a certain place to form an intricate picture.
In our recent residential conference, during a team prayer time, one of the team had a picture of many hands reaching out to one another. She felt that it was a sign of how God wants people to love and support each other and that his power would be poured out in accordance with that togetherness. I felt inspired and invited people to literally reach out to God for each other in that meeting and there was a tangible sense of his presence as they received his love.
God loves family and loves ALL to be part of his family. No one is excluded. Everyone is loved and chosen and has their perfect place prepared by God himself where he longs for them to both give and receive his love. A perfect place where through them being there, the picture of his kingdom will be revealed. As Marilyn sings: God wants just you, yes no-one else will do, listen to him call you by name. (God has a plan for you © Marilyn Baker)
Praying you’ll know the joy afresh of being a chosen and vital part of his body, his family, both upheld and upholding those around you.
