These lovely Kenyans firmly believe that “Eric the Leader”
has something to say, anytime there is some sort of formal function. Some days, I don’t.
I do not enjoy speaking when I have no conviction or passion
behind the words I say. Yesterday
was one of those days where I would have rather kept my mouth shut. Unfortunately, that was not what God
had in mind.
It was not what He had in mind when
we visited a church that expected me to introduce the team to the congregation
and share why we were there.
It was not what He had in mind when
I was asked to pray over a future church site.
It was not what He had in mind when
a Kenyan opened a youth meeting by asking the leader from the Americans to say
a few words.
But I persevered because this was not new. It was uncomfortably familiar. You see, God seems to put me in the
driest most desperate place possible…then throw me into ministry. Yes, I have nothing left to give. But I ask you, how is that any
different then a vessel? So I
willingly became a vessel. By no
means was I a happy vessel.
Did God move in the aforementioned situations in any
tangible way? No. I saw nothing. I went to dinner saying, “God I know
you’re good but I don’t want to talk to one more human being.”
I had not waited long enough. That evening, for the first time in quite sometime, I opened
my mouth and the words that came out did not register in my brain before they
left my tongue. I was simply a
conduit for his message. And for
once, I was so grateful that I had nothing to say. Because He did.
Furthermore, I simply rejoice. I rejoice for the things that He is doing in others. For the sacrifices people are
making. For the fruit God is
letting us see. For the people
that God has called into even more ministry in the midst of Africa. For the infant who was paralyzed and
can now move. For the woman who is
being healed. For her family that
is now following Christ because He is healing her. There is so much to be grateful for. So, most of the time, I just need to
get over myself and focus on Christ.
