“Take a Look at My Son”

Sometimes, the people who test us the most are the very ones God uses to shape us. In this post, I share how God turned a season of pain into a lesson on humility, patience, and love; and how He whispered to me: “Take a look at My Son.”

I had struggled with a sister in ministry. She always seemed to be on my case, always pointing out “not so positive things” about me that I needed to work on.  At first, I tried to ignore it, but over time, her words tore me down. I didn’t know how to handle it anymore, so I cried out to God.

In that moment of brokenness, the Lord spoke to me. His words were gentle but piercing:

“Look at My Son. When He was spat on, what did He do wrong? When He was mocked, what was His offense? When He was flogged, beaten, and bruised; what sin had He committed?”

Those words shifted everything. Suddenly, I understood that my pain was not wasted. Jesus had suffered innocently, and I too was being invited into a small share of His suffering. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was impatience. Whatever it was, I knew God was working in me through her. And He reminded me: “When you suffer for the sake of Christ, rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven.”

God gave me the grace to forgive her. More than that, He helped me see her as an instrument in His hands someone He was using to refine me. She is a sister not an enemy, so many times we do not let people be used as instruments of refinement, transformation, pruning and correction but this must take place if our walk with Christ must be made perfect.

When we come as people, as brothers and sisters in the family of God, we are all called into a place of perfection just as God is but for that perfection to take place there must be those who will be used as instruments, they may be your leaders, they may be your pastors, they may be a sister or a brother in the church;  it may be someone who always gets on your nerves,  someone who always think that you are the worst, someone who is not always happy with you.

This can work in different ways but for you what is most important is that you watch over your soul  and over the state of your heart asking God to help you to become all that he  wants for you. We must allow people to be used  by God to perfect us. When they do, do not despise them. Definitely you will feel those emotions because you are human but do not dwell on them, allow the Holy Spirit to help you to see what he’s doing in your life through those people at that moment.

Looking back now, I thank God for this sister. Through her, I heard the voice of God. Through her, I learned patience. And through her, God shaped me in ways I couldn’t have shaped myself.

So today, I pray that God bless her richly, sustain her, and bring her into the fullness of His purpose, in this life and in eternity.

Sometimes, the people who challenge us the most are the very ones God uses to make us more like Christ. And when we see it that way, even our pain becomes a gift.

Reflection Scripture🌱

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” Matthew 5:11–12
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Philippians 1:29
“And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4

Remember your faith is not alone📌

Lots of love 💕

~Chiamaka Augusta Jackson