I have the privilege of featuring Ashley Pichea today as my first Saturday guest blogger. What a privilege. I think you’ll enjoy her story.
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I walked into the store. I had a few groceries I needed to pick up, but mostly I was there to complete an assignment for class. We were to interview three random strangers, asking them what they thought about God.
It sounded easy enough, after all, I talk to hundreds of strangers every day on my blog, challenging them to go deeper in their walks with the Lord.
Walking up to the checkout lane and wanting to complete my assignment, I zeroed in on a lady who could be my first interviewee. But suddenly, I started to feel awkward about the conversation I was about to have.
How do I ask a total stranger to answer some questions about God for a class I’m taking? What if she looks at me funny? Or worse, what if she refuses to answer my questions?
Struck by my fear of rejection and my foolish pride, the questions remained silent – I chickened out.
Instead of talking to her about God, I struck up a conversation about the weather, the age of my children, and other “safe” topics. It wasn’t an issue of my ability to strike up and carry on a conversation with a stranger. It was all about my fear of being rejected as a follower of Christ.
Only as I finished checking out and headed for the car did I hear her say, “God bless you.”
Immediately, the guilt sunk in.
She would have been completely open to talking about God. It should have been an easy confidence-building conversation. Instead, I let my pride get the best of the situation.
I avoided one of the most important conversations that I could ever have with another human being, based solely on my fear and pride.
“Realizing that our time for ministry is growing shorter every day, Christians should take advantage of every opportunity.” {J. Carl Laney}
Hiding behind my keyboard and computer screen is easy. I don’t have to see the rejection of those who dislike my message.
It’s real life, though, where the rubber meets the road. Learning to acknowledge that it is not me that others reject when they reject my message – it is Christ – is not easy for me to do.
I’m a people-pleaser, and I struggle with self-worth.
I must daily find my value and worth in who I am in Christ, or I will never have the courage to share His love with those who need it most – the ones I meet on a daily basis.
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What about you? Do you clam-up when afforded the opportunity to share the gospel with a stranger? What about with a friend, neighbor, or co-worker? Are you willing to face rejection and share your message, knowing that ultimately it is not you that is being rejected, but Christ? What opportunities have you taken advantage of lately?
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Ashley Pichea <http://blog.ashleypichea.com/about-me> is a wife and mom (2.5 year old boy and a 4 year old girl), as well as being a blogger, an online student (pursuing an MA in Ministry), and actively involved in her local church’s various ministries. Her blog, L.I.F.E: Living Intentionally By Faith Everyday <http://blog.ashleypichea.com/> , has become a place of ministry to women with a purpose of encouraging women with the Word of God, and she is the co-founder of the 3 in 30 Challenge <http://facebook.com/3in30> . Ashley strives daily to find her identity in Christ, and she encourages you to connect with her on Facebook <http://facebook.com/lifebyashleypichea> and Twitter <http://twitter.com/apichea> .
