From the earliest time you can remember,
did you want to be like everyone else?
Or did you just want to be accepted
as you were, for being yourself?
When you were young,
did you fear or despise becoming old?
Did you think you could reach your goals
without having the knowledge
that had already been told?
Did you forget the moments you were once naïve,
only wanting what felt good, chasing the emotional high,
poor choices can bring?
Do you think you would continue to be a wise person
without seeking new information?
Do you resent the unfamiliar
and resist forming new relationships?
Are you isolated because you feel like no one understands?
Has anxiety and fear become your replacement
for inauthentic friends?
Leaving you without someone to genuinely
walk with you and hold your hand.
Do you avoid pain and call it joy?
Does comparison to another’s actions
become your standard
Instead of what the Word suggests
you should deploy?
Are you defensive when you are misunderstood?
Do you call what you know is bad for you, good?
Do you return grace with insult?
Do you call correction condemnation?
Do you recognize that you are a sinner
no matter where you are in our generation(s)?
Who gets to be honest with you?
Do they have to hide how they feel
out of fear of losing you, too?
Receiving our daily bread
is a confession and repentance event,
for God grants us His wisdom intentionally,
not by accident.
And when you gain Wisdom,
will you use it for His Glory?
Or will you bury it due to humanity’s rejection
or allow fear to be your story?
Will you receive the advice of an Elder?
Will you reject the voice of the Youth?
These kinds of questions are necessary
for “the young”, “the old”, to me and to you.
We can’t become a unified body
without the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and revelation.
We are all called to the very difficult
but life-giving assignment of
Self-Examination.
During this past year and half, we have encountered tremendous battles in some form. Rebuilding our church starts with us reshaping our own thoughts, identifying our pre-conceived notions, graciously accepting feedback, sharing authentic feedback, acknowledging our flaws and other’s pains, respecting our differences, meeting one another in our commonalities, and simply imitating Christ.
Sisters, the barriers to building authentic community are not rooted in language, race, culture, or class. These things are a result of our lack of obedience to and relationship with the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us as guide to endure through the storms in this world. He is our generational, cultural, and class bridge, our comforter, our wise counsel. We can and will do more with Him than we could ever accomplish without Him. Faith is not about being comfortable; it’s about taking risks. Will you risk rebuilding alongside me and other faithful women?
I surely hope so! Women’s Ministry is not “my” ministry. It belongs to the Lord, and He entrusts it to Us!
