My Sunday School class is doing a study on Francis Chan’s Letter to the Church. In learning about church leadership, and we took a spiritual gifts assessment.
I’ve taken similar tests over the years, and I always come up with the same gift: teaching. I do enjoy teaching, so I figured that I’d get the same result again this time. Here’s what I got today:
Exhortation…I can’t say that I’ve ever gotten that one before…to be completely honest, I had to Google what it meant.
Exhortation: The gift of exhortation is the divine strength or ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth.
I have to say, I think this hit the nail on the head. Reading through the descriptions of my “Top 5,” these really speak to me and my place in life right now. I started this page in order to share our story and encourage others in their own autism journeys. I truly enjoy reaching out to others who are going through the same things I’ve experienced, whether that is infertility or special needs parenting.
If I’m being completely transparent, I have considered shutting down my page and not writing anymore. I often let the negative comments – being called an “ableist” and a “martyr mom”- I let it get to me. I wonder why I share, why I’m so outspoken, and why I keep doing it in the face of such a negative, hateful world.
Then I took this test this morning and realized:
I do this because God can use my words for a purpose bigger than my own understanding.
Then the pastor spoke this morning on trials. We go through things in life – sometimes things that we cannot understand – but we know that God has a bigger purpose in it. Our faith is showcased during the hard times. I’ve always said this, and I’m now realizing that it’s a gift I have: I can look at a bad situation and see that there is a greater good in it. I can see the little details – the smallest connections – and know that God had His hand in it. I can see how God works out everything for the good.
I can find the purpose in the pain.
I know that God is glorified when we turn to Him in our darkest times.
I understand that I can use my story to reach others.
I see that I am encouraged by others who share their stories, so I, too, can be an encouragement to others.
I guess I’m sharing this to say – I’m human. I get down sometimes, and I think about quitting…but then I realize that writing – and connecting – with others is truly a gift….and I can’t waste that.