Providence Presbyterian Church - Powdersville SC

“Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe and able to give.”

As we approach the time in our church year designated towards stewardship, we often think of fear – will there be enough money, will there be any visitors, will there be…and the list goes on and on. We cannot approach our lives in fear of what there might not be – but from the fact that God is in control and has His hand on not just Providence, but each person who walks through these doors and the community that surrounds us.

We not only want to think about our people during this time, but think of how God wants us to be a presence in this community….a unique way of being present that each of us can respond to. We all have different ways of being present, we just have to claim what that is. I’ve spoken so many times on how slack I was at discernment because I am an impatient person, but I know where God wants me to be….not just here at Providence, which I am truly grateful to be, but to also be an advocate for those who have suffered extreme loss, have a mental illness and need someone to speak on their behalf, or feeding the hungry. Once we have this inner knowledge of what God wants us to do, we can then decide what to let go of, what to say, when to remain silent, when to work or when to remain at home.

When we get exhausted, frustrated, over-whelmed, or run down – maybe we should stop and listen to what God is saying to us. Maybe, just maybe, if we remain silent enough, we will hear where He wants to lead us and where He wants us to be. I read once that God does not require of us what is beyond our ability to do or what might possibly lead us away from Him and His presence. God wants us to live for others and to live our presence with them well. Can we do this? If may require stepping out of our comfort zone, suffering some of the fatigue mentioned above, being a voice for someone who does not have one, or feeding someone who has nothing to eat. Can we do this? Can we drink this cup? We can only as long as it does not take us away from God and from our deepest self and our families.

Can we listen and be still to follow where God leads us? Sometimes it is rough terrain, working with people and being the hands and face of our Lord, and knowing the need and working towards that goal of doing what is for the good of all, when we may not know exactly how to go about this. Don’t be afraid to step outside of that boundary, to ask God for guidance on how to give and how to serve. It allows us to be of service to God, to our church, to our society, be faithful to our vocation, and feel good about it. We will then be doing a service to those for whom we want to be a source of hope and a life-giving presence. Can we drink this cup? Can we give what is necessary? Can we discern God’s will in our lives fearlessly? With the grace of God, we can. Thanks be to God~

Grace and peace, Becky