When you serve the broken, don’t expect you’ll always get a thank you. Instead, be prepared for the FU’s and WTH’s. I remember reading a line similar to that in Jen Hatmaker’s book Interrupted and thinking that’s crazy.
I’m thankful to say that after two years of serving in the inner city and on the streets, the majority of people I’ve been around have been so appreciative. As a matter of fact, most of the FU’s and WTH’s I’ve heard have been blurted out in my Bible study (not as disrespectful, but as a cultural language – that’s a story for another day).
But there was this girl — I had seen her out on the streets before and I was thrilled the day she showed up at church. Young. Cute. Trying to get off the streets. As she sat in the service I prayed something bold would raise up in her to motivate her onward and off the streets.
When the service ended she came up to me with tears in her eyes. I asked if I could help her in any way. “I need help. Today is the day I need to start a new chapter in my life. A door has been opened and I need to walk through it.”
We visited. She cried. I cried and through my tears sniffled, “Our Savior came for such as that — new chapters, new life, open doors. Jesus will . . . “
“I WILL NEVER LOVE YOUR JESUS. DON’T SAY HIS NAME. JESUS IS NOTHING!”, she blurted out as she interrupted me.
It was as if at the name of Jesus this young women freaked. FREAKED! I tried to love on her and share, but she couldn’t accept the thought, word, or name of Jesus.
Then I FREAKED! After calmly walking her to the door and praying for her as she left, I broke down. I was shaking. That was my Savior and best friend that she was dissing and convulsing to. My heart couldn’t take it. For days I was totally disturbed by her demeanor at the mention of the name Jesus.
Hear my heart when I say I would have much rather heard 746 FU’s and WTH’s than to hear the one sentence “Jesus is nothing” that day.
I’m realizing when you are on a journey following the ONE to reach one, it is filled with twists and turns at every corner. Many you are just not prepared for!
When was the last time you were totally thrown for a loop while trying to reach out to a person?
Oh wow.
That is just heartbreaking! :(
When was this? Have you seen her since? I will be praying for her!
It was fairly recently. Yes, I’ve seen her. She’s still on the streets. She came back to church one time, but that’s been it. Pray for her. She prostitutes herself to support her crack addiction. My heart cries every time I see her. She’s involved in some wicked stuff and totally against the ONE MAN who can help her — JESUS! Thanks friend.
Thrown for a loop? Happens often when working with teens. But I want to sit with your story in my heart as I reflect of my own. I want to pray for that little girl, as I was once her. I said those same words, to my own husband, long before we were ever married. He met me in my brokenness. He’ll meet her, too.
Jesus, please meet her the way you met me. Please reveal yourself to her, even right now. Swoon her with your love through grace with skin on people you’ve sent into her life. In Your Name, Amen!
Lisa – thank you, thank you for praying for this girl. That warms my heart to know the next time I run into her I will know others are out there praying for her. She needs Jesus. Hoping she soon realizes that. Thanks for your transparency. I’m emailing you back soon. I promise!
Just a couple of weeks ago my husband and I were out visiting for our church bus route and someone told us of a new family with 4 kids that had just moved into the trailer park. When we knocked on the door I was so surprised to see a familiar blond head peek around the door. A young woman that I had gotten close to…prayed for…witnessed to..a few years ago. Then she had moved away. I often would comment to my husband that I wish I knew what had happened to her. When I knew her before she was in an abusive relationship. And she had had her 4 kids taken away by the state because she was “entertaining” men in her home. So it was with great joy that we greeted each other that day a couple of weeks ago. She grabbed me in a bear hug and wouldn’t turn loose. We both cried happy tears to see each other again. As she hugged me she whispered in my ear, “I’ve needed y’all so much!” Then she proceeded to tell me that the devil had beaten her down until she felt like she could not go any lower. She had a black eye from a fist fight at a club the night before. I told her that she could look UP and see what Jesus had done for her. Without batting an eye she said, “Oh I love Jesus with all my heart! I pray all the time!” That’s what she says with her mouth. She may even believe it with her mind. But her heart and her actions say otherwise. She’s sooooo very mixed up. Until she gets to the end of her rope I’m afraid she will continue to try and fight her battles alone. I saw her again last Saturday. She promised me she would come to church soon. Please pray for her!
Marilyn – love this story of how God continually puts this girl and family in your path. I’m praying Jesus will permeate her life and she’ll see the Truth of what she is looking for. Thanks for going to the places where most don’t go. Blessings for your bus ministry. I’d give anything if we had a bus. We could reach so many more. Transportation is a huge issue for many. Praying and thanks for sharing.
wow. Praying that God will continue to draw her to Himself and that she would be open to His love for her and remember how kind you were to her…Thanks for visiting my blog. Your comment went into my spam folder so I just found it today. Blessings to you, Alene :)
Thanks for the prayers. I will just have to smile next time I see her knowing so many are praying on her behalf. I’ll be expecting a miracle. Hoping her heart is broken for Jesus sooner than later. It’s a tough life on the streets!
Heartbreaking. Praying that the seed has been planted and God continues to bring people into this girl’s life who will water the seed. Lord, please wrap your loving arms around her, even though she doesn’t know it’s you, and let your love seep into her heart through the anger and hurt. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
In Christ,
Laura