Missed Opportunity

I realized that the other day God gave me an opportunity to bring Him some glory, but I totally missed it.  So this is me trying to make up for that.

I have always been really shy.  No I mean REALLY shy.  I barely talked in school until around junior high.  Even after that I had one friend that was a crutch for me.  She was very social and I just sort of hung around her to break the ice.  Dating my husband really pushed me because he is extremely social.  I was pushed into a huge extended family and lots and lots of friends.  These are all baby steps that God has used to work through my anxiety.  Moving here was another step in that process.  I was forced to make new friends and be around people I didn't know all the time.  God connected me with a wonderful group of Bible study women.  Women who encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone.  Mainly to learn to pray out loud.  I realize this comes very natural to some people and is very stressful for others.  We would stand in a circle and pray for the person next to us.  No judgement, no expectations, no pressure.  It was amazing.  I grew so much that year.  Around the same time me and a friend of mine ended up being co-coordinators of our local MOPS group.  I was definitely not equipped for this role, but God showed me that He doesn't always prepare us before He calls us to do something.  Sometimes the call comes first and He simply provides as it's needed.  He gave me the courage to not only speak in front of a group of 20-30 women, but also to pray in front of them.  I've gotten to know Him and rely on Him even more since then.

Sunday was the first day of a new class at church that two friends of mine and I put together.  I ended up starting us off with a prayer and some discussion.  Four years ago this would not have happened.  A woman I've known since then came up to me after class and told me how impressed she was that I had done that because I used to be so shy.  I should have told her how God has been working on that in me and how God gives me courage every time I have to speak in front of people.  But all I said was, "Yeah, it's totally outside of my comfort zone."  How could I not give God the credit for that.  He is the only reason I can do it.  Without Him I would be shying away in the corner like I used to.  I would be nothing without Him. 

Father,  Thank you for standing by me through every step of my life.  For giving me strength and courage when I need it most.  Thank you for putting my husband and I together.  For bringing that group of women together at that time in my life.  Thank you for continuing to work in me every single day.  I am nothing without you.  Amen.