40 Faces, 40 Places: A Devotional JourneySample

Sara from Derbyshire

Sometimes whole-life discipleship looks like learning God’s lessons from our past experiences.

I work for Children’s Services as an Early Help Advisor. My job is to advise about safeguarding and family support to professionals in schools, health services, or community support services. Often, I won’t know what the situation is until the phone rings, or I go out on a visit, but I always know God will be there to guide my words and decisions.

His grace saved me from a tricky and rebellious life as an adult. Something will come up during my work, and God just quietly reminds me: ‘See, that’s why you went through that. So you can be helpful in this situation.’ Not only does this constantly build my faith and closeness to God, but my skills bring peace and support to other people going through tricky times.

I can also offer solid biblical advice without necessarily mentioning religion. For example, I often use words taken from verses about the Fruits of the Spirit to help people resolve their negativity or to build their resilience to a situation.

I am a full-time employed adult with a formal diagnosis of autism. I realize this is quite rare, and I know it’s possible because I do my job with God. I know my mission is my work. I don’t function too well in church, so it’s important to know the mission is more than what you do for the church.

Reflection

It’s a remarkable thing. God uses difficult experiences from our past to help us help others. It is one of the many ways God often turns bad situations into good in our broken world. It’s one of the reasons we can face the future with hope and optimism.

He also works through the people we are, not just some perfect mega-Christian. You are already the right person in the right place to join God’s mission – whether in a job, a relationship with a friend or family member, or anywhere else.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that you use my past experiences to equip me to help others with all kinds of challenges. Please help me see how You’re already working through me and point me to ways I can join Your work where I am today. Thank you that Your mission includes all of my life, Monday to Sunday. Please give me Your perspective on every bit of it.