You are not too young!

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’, for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.”-Jeremiah 1:7

God has a purpose even for young people. He knew you before you were born. He designed you for a purpose.

Before you say “I’m just a kid or I’m only a teenager. How can God use me?” let’s look at some young people in the Bible who God used.

First there is Joseph. He was a young teen when his brothers sold him into slavery. God used him even in his youth. Soon he became the second in command of Egypt. His story begins in Genesis 37.

Next there is Samuel. God was using him even before he was born. Read 1Samuel 1.

Then there was David. As a teen/young man fought and killed a Philistine giant. He also wrote many of the Psalms as a young man. Read 1 Samuel chapter 16 through chapter 18.

Fourth there was Josiah, who became king of Judah at age 8. Check out 2 Kings chapter 22.

Then there was Daniel and his friends. The four of them were used mightily by God, as teens. Look up Daniel chapter 1.

We finally come to Jeremiah. Even though he was young, God chose him to be a prophet at a young age. God even told him not to say “I can’t, because I’m too young.” Read
Jeremiah chapter 1.

So remember, you are never too young to be used by God. You just have to be willing.

The Lord’s Promises and Our Faith Tests

God promised Abraham he’d be the father of many nations and his descendents would be like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the shore.

God promised David he would be king.

God has promised me that someday I’ll be a momma of many children in Africa. He has promised that I’ll go and start an orphanage in Uganda.

But…with God’s promises, comes tests of faith.

God told Abraham to sacrifice his only true heir, Isaac. God was testing Abraham’s faith. If Abraham killed Isaac on that alter, all of the promises of numerous descendents would be gone, unless God brought Isaac back to life. But at the very moment Abraham put the knife to Isaac’s throat, the Lord stopped him and supplied an alternative sacrifice.

God allowed Saul to hate David. Saul made many attempts on David’s life. This was a test of faith for David. If Saul killed him he wouldn’t be king. Time and again, while running or hiding from Saul, David would ask God for help, until the day Saul and Jonathan were killed. David mourned for his best friend and worst enemy. Then Israel made David king.

My test of faith is my family and God’s timing. I want to go NOW, but I have a son who is starting high school this year. My other son will start next year. You might think, “What’s the big deal, you homeschool them.” Yes I homeschool, but high school is more demanding than elementary, so I need to give my all to the boys’ schooling. So this places going to Africa no sooner than 5 years from now. That’s the timing portion of my faith test.

The family part is: my husband. He doesn’t want to go to Africa. So if I think too hard about this issue, I start going places that I really don’t want to go. I start asking “what if…” questions. “What if God didn’t promise me Africa? What if I misunderstood?” I have thought hard about this question. I’ve decided that if I’ve misunderstood then we go somewhere else. God has placed this desire to help orphans in me, so I know He will fill that desire, one way or another.
“What if God changes Jamie’s attitude?” Than we both go to Africa, which is what I want. “I want us both to serve our Lord in Africa. But…what if God doesn’t change Jamie’s attitude?” If that is the case, than 1 of 2 terrible things will happen: 1) we get a divorce. Which neither of us want. Or 2)Jamie dies. I don’t even want to go there!

When God promises something, we have to remember that He will not break that promise! What is your biggest faith test?