“…But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

(John 7:29, NLT)

 

There are times in our lives when we need assistance. Building meaningful, lasting relationships is one of those times. You would think that because we are the highest form of life that we have all the right tools for life and relational success. But that’s not always true. We may have the tools, but we may be lacking the understanding of how to use them.

 

During the fall of 1995, I was fighting for my life. I had been really sick since July 1993 when I went out on disability. As I grew worse and weaker, I cried out to God for help. “Jesus, save me!” was my plea. On Thanksgiving Day 1995, God sent one of my uncles with a book of herbal remedies. I was very sick and could barely breathe, but God told me, “Whatever that books tells you to do, do it!”

 

I mustered up the strength to study the book. Afterward, I knew God had sent me my answer of deliverance. I tell this story in detail in my book. However, the point that I am trying to make here is that the answer is sometimes right in front of us, but we lack understanding of how to access it.

 

The funny part about what God did to heal me, was that He had sent the same uncle in 1993, one month after I had gone out on disability. That time He sent him to gift me with a full bag of herbal teas. However, I didn’t take any of them because I didn’t know how to use them, but especially because I didn’t trust the messenger. Eventually, I threw them away, never knowing I was tossing my healing in the trash can.

 

I looked at the messenger with suspicion, rather than asking him how to use the herbal teas. I neglected to get understanding about the value of the teas simply because I had learned not to value the messenger. He and I never got along back then. He was very critical and condescending toward me, and I knew some things about his questionable lifestyle that made me question his wisdom in this area. But God also knew about him and his lifestyle and yet, He still sent him to me twice, with the same answer in a different form.

 

Looking back, I think about the fact that my uncle could’ve just left me suffering and not obeyed God’s leading to come back to me with the answer. Neither he nor I were born-again at that time. But it’s because God used him to heal me, that one year later I gave my life to Christ and was born-again on Thanksgiving Day 1996. No, it wasn’t planned, but it was desperately needed and appreciated.

 

I have learned not to question the answer of God, just because the messenger may not be who or what I expected. If I had rejected my uncle the second time, I might not be here today. I might have forfeited God’s grace to heal me, His way. That season of my life changed my life and the way I see the people in my life. We all may not be perfect, but we are all usable to God.

 

Prayer:

Father, please help me to see the value around me, especially, in the people around me. Let me not forfeit your grace through any of them that You may be using to assist me. And when it’s time for You to make me a messenger of change or healing for someone, please help me to bring forth the message in love, humility, and obedience. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.