Circle of Worth

Two years ago, I was invited to share my testimony with a church group in Bethlehem called the "Jolly Sixties," who met on Sunday afternoons.

That Sunday morning, something unsettling occurred. I was overcome by a deep feeling of unworthiness, and I felt inadequate to minister to the group. Despite these feelings, I prepared to attend the church's morning service. I felt unworthy.

As I sat in the pew, wrestling with my inferiority complex, I waited for the sermon to begin. Little did I know how specifically that sermon was meant for me. The preacher, unaware of my struggles, delivered a message that felt directly from the Father's heart, offering encouragement precisely when I needed it.

He preached from Luke 7, recounting the story of the man who asked Jesus to heal his servant. The man's words resonated deeply: he didn't consider himself worthy to have Jesus come under his roof, requesting instead that Jesus simply speak a word from a distance, and his servant would be healed.

Jesus was amazed at the greatness of the man's faith!

That message ministered to me profoundly, and I was filled with renewed confidence to minister that afternoon. The day was delightful and successful.

Then, two years later, just last weekend, I helped a friend at his stall at the Esther festival in the Eastern Free State. We also prayed for the 700 women attending the festival. That same week, I shared words of encouragement on Radiokansel, declaring, "You are worthy."

The theme of the Esther festival was: "You are worthy in God's flower garden." My friend provided earrings for each woman's gift pack, and the cards on which the earrings were mounted bore the message: "You are worthy."

At the stall, a woman approached me and said, "You might not remember me, but you gave your testimony at the Jolly Sixties two years ago. I was there." Her next words struck me deeply: "I am the pastor's wife."

A great circle had come full turn.

My prayer for you and each of those 700 women is that you will know your worth. As you put on those earrings, may you hear with your spirit that you are worthy, and may Jesus marvel at your faith.

Father, I pray now for everyone listening. May they not just hear with their physical ears, but may they hook this truth onto their spirit: You are worthy.

May your small steps in faith cause Jesus to be in wonder at you.

Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.

Amen

The Heavenly Window

Two days later, as dusk approached, I found myself about 25 km north of Grootfontein. After a long day's walk, I considered pitching my tent along the road, hidden behind tall grass bushes. However, a distant rumble changed my mind. The sky began to illuminate with flashes, and thunder echoed as dark clouds gathered from all directions. Reassessing the situation, I decided to continue walking towards Grootfontein in the  darkness.

The clouds intensified, and within an hour, the sky was entirely covered except for a small opening directly above me. This peculiar gap resembled an open window, revealing the night stars. Throughout my walk towards Grootfontein, this "heavenly window" inexplicably remained open, showcasing the stars above.

Throughout the evening, the storm grew more intense. The clouds around me darkened, and the thunder intensified, yet the heavenly window remained open. Around 11 pm, just outside Grootfontein, fierce winds began to pick up. I spotted a campsite near the road and turned onto the dirt track leading to it. Reality struck - the gate was  likely locked.

As I wondered whether to pitch my tent along the dirt road, I saw headlights approaching from the campsite. A car arrived at the gate, and I discovered the driver was the campsite owner, on her way to drop off the restaurant and bar staff after their shifts. She listened to my story with amazement and instructed me to set up my tent under a canopy near the bathrooms.

As she drove away, she called out that I could stay for free. Under the canopy, I quickly pitched my tent. On my way to the bathroom, I looked up and saw the heavenly window finally close. By the time I turned on the shower, the rain was pouring down.

The heavenly window was a gateway through which I could see hope throughout the evening, even amidst thunderous thunderstorms and dark clouds. Just as the heavenly window allowed me to see the stars, your heart is a window through which a broken world, amidst dark clouds, can see the stars of hope.

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

What a privilege to show the world these stars of hope - for through the attitude of your heart, heaven becomes visible on earth.