Weeding Out Doubts to Serve
Written by Sarah de Orlando
I learned about weeding as a preteen, earning a few dollars an hour to pluck invaders from Mrs. G’s beautiful gardens. Her acreage had rolling hills, a duck pond, a two-story barn, and a regal brick colonial in the heart of the historic village of my hometown. Mrs. G. graciously joined me in the beginning, teaching me to remove the plant’s root; otherwise, it would return and continue to spread.
On my knees in the sun, wearing a hot and extremely embarrassing mosquito net hat, I pulled weed after weed. The 5-gallon buckets filled quickly, and I lugged them to the compost pile. I maintained several garden beds surrounding her home. Each week I visited the same garden beds, pulling new offenders and keeping her gardens pristine. It was hard but satisfying work.
Living in Poland a few years ago, the Lord reminded me of the necessity of weeding the garden of my heart. In a rapid season of growth in my late twenties, as I began to believe I was created for a unique godly purpose, new weeds were planted in my heart by the enemy. The seeds of doubt tried to choke my hope. How could I have a story to share? Who would listen? There were so many women with more impactful stories, more creative writing styles, and more Instagram followers. There was no place for me to grow and flourish in this world. Those awful weeds of comparison and a scarcity mentality tried to stunt my growth. I believed all the spots were taken. I also feared I’d be drowned in the details—how could I share; how would I publish my story? How could I step forward without seeing the whole plan?
My thoughts had become influenced by tones of the world’s scarcity and competition. But God’s Word encouraged me, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6 NIV). Releasing myself from comparison and simply encouraging others the way the Lord wired me would build up others. He helped me renew my mind (Romans 12:2) by focusing on his love and plan for my life. From there, peace flowed as I sensed how he was calling me to share my story of healing and hope with others.
And God, in his abundance, wants to shower good gifts on all his children! He doesn’t bathe all the trees in the forest with sunlight except for me. How ridiculous! No, there will always be more than enough to nourish me. There is a place for me to stand and grow. There are people he has set in my path to nurture me with encouragement and love. He invites me to be steadfast and flourish where he planted me. When I get caught in the details of how and what this looks like, Jesus steps in, and asks me, like Peter, “Do you love me?…Feed my sheep” (John 21:17 NIV) It’s simple: I get to love and share Jesus in the unique way he created me to, in this moment and season. The beauty of humbly embracing my calling has drawn me deeper and deeper to serve him and build others up to see his goodness.
Uncomplicated, beautiful, Jesus.
I get to reach out and help those that desperately need to experience his love and tear out hope-choking lies. Jesus. I get to bring them Jesus. You, too, have a unique calling to humbly accept and walk out. The Lord, and his many facets of creativity are expressed in wonderfully complex ways in each of us. Together, we are his masterpiece, and we need you to say yes to your one-of-a-kind part. What is something you do excellently that comes without much effort? It is by the grace of God, and a beautiful gift to share with others. I challenge you to humbly embrace the talents you have to serve others and honor the Lord. As Jesus says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).
Note: Themes of this blog are adapted from Love Letters from Poland, de Orlando, 2021.
CALL TO ACTION:
List your gifts and talents, not just looking at Romans 12:1-11, but think deeper. What are things you do that others often compliment you on?
How can you start using some of those gifts to build up your community?
Take time to pray and work through doubts or fears that keep you from sharing these gifts, and him to show you opportunities to humbly serve
