Several years ago, I served on our church prayer team. Every Sunday I had the privilege of praying for and alongside women for physical and emotional healing or about marriage restoration, job loss, family strife, prodigal sons and daughters, barrenness, and plain discouragement.
One Sunday, an amazing thing happened. A woman came to the altar for prayer. She didn’t say much, just that she was feeling discouraged. As I began to pray for her, I sensed God nudging me to remind her that she was not only needed by the church but wanted.
I’ve been startled by the same deep feeling of not being wanted that I sensed from this woman. We can sit in church week after week, wondering if our gifts are not only needed but wanted.
Now, as I stood before this woman, who looked to be in her sixties, I stopped praying and looked her straight in the eye. I reminded her of this: God wasn’t through with her yet. He had big plans for her, and younger women needed her wisdom. She was not only needed but wanted. It was time for her to stop blending in and start standing out. I told her that no one could offer her unique gift of wisdom but her. I ended by saying, “You are needed here.”
I can still feel her tears against my cheek as she hugged and thanked me. God had spoken into the deepest part of her desires.
I feel God saying the same thing to you today: You are needed.
At that moment I realized women, including me, need to be reminded that God made each of us unique. We’re original. One of a kind. We are not replaceable. Our gifts have a place at the table, regardless of our age. There is something utterly beautiful and simple about older women pouring into younger women (see Titus 2). Our best days are ahead of us because God goes before us. Most importantly, sometimes it takes our stepping out and believing God is with us.
Are you feeling discouraged? Restless? Unwanted? Feeling as if your gifts aren’t needed or wanted? Here’s Paul’s encouragement, written to you: “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6–7 NIV).
How is God calling you? Have you been holding back because you feel unwanted? Don’t. Your gift is needed. Use it.
Where do I start? Am I too old? But how? When? Questions are part of the faith journey and evidence God is stirring something new in you. Don’t be discouraged by them. Lean into God and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. You may have been waiting for years for someone to permit you to use your gifts. Wait no longer. Give yourself permission to try something new.
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