“God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”—2 Corinthians 5:5 (NLT)

Sometimes God has to prepare us for His blessings. My first book, Widowed and Young,  got rejected time and time again with the reason being there wasn’t a big enough audience for it.  I took it as a sign that maybe it was a therapy tool for me, so I put it on the back burner. I got remarried and didn’t think much more about it. That was until 9-11 happened and there were over 100 women widowed and pregnant. 

Of course, my heart went out to them because I had wished I would have kept pursuing getting the book published. I know now it was because God wanted me to be able to give others hope… hope that one day, they might love again as I had done. Had it been published sooner, that would not have been the case.

A small publisher that is no longer in business picked it up for publication (it is longer in print, but one of my goals for this year is to at least have an e-book version available). It was by no means a money maker for me. In fact, I bought more books to give away to others than I ever made. Seriously, I think my biggest royalty check was $15. However, for me it wasn’t about making money. It was more a ministry tool for me. I felt as if God had blessed me financially so that I could afford to do that.

I was so desperate to meet someone like me that had been a widowed pregnant single mom that had gone on with her life and had “normal” children. I wanted to be able to be that resource for other women. I now see how God was equipping me to do that with publishing the book in His perfect timing. While ministering to young widows on a regular basis is no longer something I do, God does still on occasion put someone in my pathway as He did at church this past fall. 

As I look back on my life, I can see how God was and still is preparing me to fulfill His call for me. God can use our limited resources and make something creative out of it. If you would have told me I would still be knitting all of these years later, I would have never believed it. I would have scoffed at you had you told me that God was going to use someone like me who is not creative to create items with my hands to share the love of Jesus.

Knitting did NOT come easy to me. Initially it was a struggle. Honestly, it still is for me sometimes. I stick to quick and easy patterns because I don’t have the focus or patience to work on something complicated. I am by no means a master knitter nor do I foresee that title for me in the future. Yet, God was able to use me to write a book that included simple patterns. 

Self-doubt can easily sideline you from God’s purpose. If I would have listened to the lies of the enemy, you aren’t that good of a knitter, you can’t write patterns, what makes you think a publishing company will be interested in your book…? I could go on and on with why I shouldn’t have taken a leap of faith but when I list all of the reasons I can’t do something, I am not giving God an opportunity to do the impossible with me. 

God can change the world with people like you and me. We don’t need to be the best of the best. God wants a willing and obedient spirit and He will take care of the rest. He can use our every-day activities to prepare us for what He is calling us to do.  It is up to God, not me to orchestrate the results to fulfill His plan for my life. God is at work even when we can’t see it. God stirred my heart to use my hands to do what I can to expand His kingdom. He can do the same with you. 

In the book of Exodus God used every skilled craftsman (including women) to help build the tabernacle. He still wants to use all of us to use our God given abilities to help build His kingdom. We no longer require a physical tabernacle. We are it, because we have the Holy Spirit in dwelling in us. God has built each and every one of us with a specific skillset that He can use. What is yours?  How can you bless someone this week with it?

Dear Lord,

Forgive me when I let my insecurities keep me from stepping out for what You are calling me to do. I know You are preparing me so that I can handle the next level of responsibility. I thank You for Your perfect timing. I lift up those that are unsure of what gifts You have given them to help grow Your Kingdom. Open their eyes to skillsets that they possess that can bless people in their community. I ask for You to give them confirmation and confidence to step out in faith to where You are leading them. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

April Memory Verse:

My memory verse for this month is from the Lord’s prayer.

“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”—Matthew 6:10

Please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.