Our first day of ministry was spent at The Bridge. The Bridge is a non profit organization that is committed to help the homeless get back on their feet and onto a more solid path. They provide food, showers, shelter, counseling and job training.
Our goal that day was to share Jesus and offer hope to the hopeless. One activity that The Bridge offers its volunteers is called The Walk. It is a walking tour around the most poverty stricken parts of St. Louis and to see where homeless people stay/sleep. My group was the first to make this tour. I saw tent cities, I saw abandoned beds under bridges, and I saw men frantically looking through trash to find their next meal. I saw children sleep in their mothers arms under signs that read “homeless shelter, come in”. I thought that living simply was better but these people didn’t have the simple necessities and that’s what hurt my heart. In the middle of our tour, we felt heavy raindrops from the heavens. As we looked up and saw the clouds follow us, I assumed our tour had stopped and we would head to the warm, well lit shelter that we came from. Of course I was wrong… Our tour guide was still leading us. I mentioned my concern for thunder approaching to the youth pastor but he just looked at me and said lets keep on walking. Dang…I had to keep my cool while there was a storm following me!
As we got poured on, this tour guide kept talking and kept walking! I thought to myself….Doesn’t this guy know we can get sick, doesn’t he know that we can get struck by lighting, doesn’t he know that I am uncomfortable? As I was finishing my thoughts…one of the students was near me and said…
“I do not like rain! I do not like being wet! I do not like thunder!”
And what blurted out with no desire from my part but what flowed from my heart was “GROWTH”
“What? I didn’t hear you?”
“I said GROWTH”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that during our time of fear and discomfort, God wants to use what you are currently experiencing to reveal more of Himself to you. To grow in Him.”
“mmm”
“yea…deep”
That revelation helped her have compassion for the homeless that have to be stuck in the rain all day! She started talking about how she wants to help homeless shelters more when she gets home.
At first it was all about us and our discomfort, but when we allowed the spirit to reveal his purpose, that is when it no longer becomes about us but becomes about the needs of others. Isn’t that the love of God? Putting others before yourself. I had no desire to talk about Growth but I having rivers of living water in me and I cannot suppress truth despite my emotional state. I may have felt scared and tired but that didn’t change the truth.
Later that night I walked up to Courtney and said, “ Courtney I am so proud of you! You walked through the storm and endured. Then after the storm passed, you were the first one to volunteer to help lead a activity with the homeless. Your compassion for them allowed you to make them smile during their storms of life. Your revelation from God helped you share the light.”
Courtney smiled and was in shock from the impact she on these people.
What revelation is waiting for you?
Who is waiting for you to share that revelation?
“God wants to use every life experience, whether good or bad from our view, as a catalyst to draw us into deeper intimacy with Him and give us hope. Let me say it again so you are clear on this: God wants to use what you are currently experiencing to reveal more of Himself to you” –John Thomas
