God Wants to Use ME?!?!?!

I have noticed something lately.  In the past month or so people have contacted me for advice or have opened up to me about struggles they are having.  They are coming to.... ME!?!?!  Are they crazy?  I really don't know why they chose me.  I am such a disorganized, messed up, emotional person!  They have been coming to me about medical issues, relationship conflicts, career/financial concerns, parenting issues, marital problems, and conflicts with other Christians. Each time I did my best to give suggestions or just comfort and encourage these people.  Each time I reflected and prayed that I had said the right things.  After about the third time I realized God was in fact using ME!  WOW!  I then began praying hard that I was saying what HE wanted me to say!  I also began asking God why these people were coming to me.  There are so many more qualified people than me.  My own children don't listen to me, but these people, ranging in ages from 20 to 40+, were coming to me.  God showed me these truths:

1. He often uses normal people
2. These people know I am a Christian 
3. They can trust me to keep their confidence
4. I won't judge them but I will speak Biblical truth out of love
5. I've been through similar struggles
6. They have seen how I handle challenging times
7. I'm a disorganized, messed up, emotional person (which I guess makes me approachable)

This has been a very humbling time!  I feel so blessed that God is able and willing to use me.  It feels so good to be used by God.  The leader of my Bible Study group recently commented that all of us in the group enjoy being used by God.  This is so true!  It is also a bit overwhelming because I don't want to say anything that is not God lead.  I also don't want to take any of the credit... to God be ALL the glory!  This leads me to the aha moment I had!  He uses me because I am.... willing.  

I pray that Christians that my children and husband come in contact with will also be willing to advise and encourage them!  I pray they will look to God as they speak to them.  God can use any of us.  We only need to be willing.  He will guide us with what to do and say.  Our paths do not cross by accident, God appoints each meeting.

Here are some ordinary people God used:

• Peter and John (healing a man) Acts 3: 1-8
• Ananias (restored Saul's sight) Acts 22: 12-13
• Noah (built the arc) Genesis 6 - 9
• Sarah (gave birth to Isaac in her advanced age) Genesis 21:2
• Joseph (became second in charge in Egypt)  Genesis 41:37-44
• Moses (delivered people from Pharaoh) Exodus
• Rahab (a prostitute who saved Joshua's spies) Joshua 2

If God can use me, He can use you too!