Today I sat across the table from one of my students. A young man who had drifted away from the youth group and made some bad choices and found himself in a very dark place. We talked for two hours. God. Girls. Drugs. Life. Choices. Friends. Music. Talents. Future. Etc... It ended with this young man literally giving me his drugs and rededicating his life to Christ.
Now this situation came at a very interesting time in my life. A time, to be very vulnerable and honest, where I really felt like I wasn't making any difference here. The fruit just hasn't been showing. All the time. All the sowing. All the junk. I had just had a conversation with my wife about what I was doing here. Had I made a difference? What is wrong with this place? Am I just wasting time, talent, and energy? And then out of nowhere this young guy steps back into my world.
He said that I was the only person he knew he could turn too. I was the only one who hadn't quit on him. Wow.
During the whole conversation I felt like God was ministering to me. Reminding me of why He brought me here. Reminding me that people do change. Reminding me that people really do still need Him. Reminding me that we do reap what we sow.
I don't share this to toot my own horn. Honestly, I felt kind of guilty afterwards. Guilty because I have been so focused on myself and my situation that I almost forgot why I was here. All I could see was the disappointments and obstacles. All the things that weren't going my way. Focusing on the uphill part of the journey and not the journey itself. I almost forgot about the mission.
I thank God for today. Not only for God saving this young man but in essence God, through this young man, saving me.
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1 comment:
Nik,
Thanks for posting this. It is encouraging to know others have felt that way. I have felt that many times and God always has His way of showing us that He is still in the life-changing work. Though His work is not for our comfort, I am glad He changes lives...mine and others.
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