Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 14A—Gifted with a Purpose
It was February 4, 2010. My mind was in a spiraling whirlwind of emotions. Helplessness, sorrow, anger, guilt, fatigue, fear and even love were all jumbled in my brain as I wrote a blog that day called, “What do I do when I am lost in a sea of craziness?” Mom was in the hospital with a psychotic breakdown. It wasn’t the first; but, it did seem the worst she had experienced over the course of the time I had been taking care of her. Beyond that, I myself was tired. I had spent beyond my means to provide private sitters for mom to avoid this breakdown; yet, it came anyway. As all the mixed emotions were whirling in my head, I began to wonder “where is the fine line between sanity and insanity?” It felt that I had carried the torch for Christ, for my family, and for work alone. That day, I wondered; “was I really all that different than mom? Didn’t I too have fears, sorrows, worries, and moments of depression as well? The only difference I could see between mom and me that day was that I held mine tightly hidden deep within; where, she wore her emotions like a banner. It was as though the diagnosis gave her the freedom to do or say whatever she pleased. I, on the other hand must get up to go to work, strive to say the right things, struggle to pay all the bills for us both, clean the house, be always responsible, cling tight to the final shred of hope, and forgive myself when I failed to get it all done. Ah, yes and the self-loathing for even allowing such a thought to enter my brain—after all, there was mom completely lost into a psychotic world and I should be more empathetic. Yet, the pain ran so deep; I only wanted to run. I prayed fervently, even though I had no idea what to pray.
original artwork by Ronald Barba and can be found at http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all This artwork is protected under copyright laws and cannot be reproduced without permission.
I felt so lost and all alone. I knew God was with me and that certainly was all I needed, right? I learned a valuable lesson the next day when I received a call from Alberto, my son.
He had read the blog and suddenly knew that he must intervene with a word of truth. He called to give me a reality check. “Mom, listen to me.” He was very firm and strong as he began to outline the truth of who I am in Christ. He reminded me of the ministry I had been called to do and that I must stand on the truth of who I am in Christ. He told me to quit listening to Satan’s lies and to “pull it together”. “Mom, I love you, you are stronger than this and you know the truth of God’s strength. You have been through a lot worse with God’s guidance and why would you let your testimony be destroyed now over something you have no control. You do have the power of God in you to control your response to the situation. By the way, I am not the one who is the best listener. So, if you need someone to listen call Ron or Melissa. Love you.” With that, he hung up. Suddenly, I realized that I was not a force of one. As I reflected on what had happened, I realized that God designed our pilgrimage journey on this earth in such a manner as to need each other.
In Christ, we are given spiritual gifts. Yet, God so designed the gifts in a manner that we all need each other. He did not give you or me all the gifts; although, there may be moments when we are able to step away from our primary gift and be given momentarily another of the spiritual gifts in a moment of crisis. Still we are each endowed with a primary and usually a secondary gift. In order for the work of the church to grow and prosper, we need all the spiritual gifts working in harmony. That means, we need each other.
Look at how Paul described this in I Corinthians 12. “4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many.15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
In Christ, we are God’s chosen, beloved, redeemed, and blessed children. We are declared saints, gracious servants of Perfect love, and born into righteousness as God’s new creation in Christ. Beyond that we are gifted with spiritual gifts that we are to harmoniously work together to be whole. Because I believe it is very important to understand these gifts I plan to take us through the various gifts over the next few chapters. There is power in knowledge and in knowing who we are in Christ. There is power in identifying our own spiritual gifts and there is power found in understanding the spiritual gifts of others.
Listen to this song I Am Not Alone. Not only will Christ be there in the midst, he will send the gifted saints you need along this journey whenever needed.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.