God Uses the Average People.

When I worked at Woodlands Camp, I remember specifically a time when a friend of mine was telling his testimony. There was a phrase he said that stuck with me. He said: All my life, I have felt average. I was never the worst at anything or the best at anything. People don’t see an average person.

 

This hit me hard. For so long in my life, one of my biggest fears was to be average. I think, for me, this root comes from middle school because everyone feels like they aren’t a big deal. Middle school is overwhelming because it feels like there are a billion people around, but it’s impossible to be seen. And if people do see, it’s the big zit in the middle of your forehead.

 

Middle school felt like people pointing their fingers at the insecurities of others, hoping no one saw their own. Overall, an awful time.

 

I remember feeling like no one liked me… I mean I didn’t like myself, so how could someone like me? And my hair was as thick as a forest and my glasses and braces did not help the cause.

 

The funniest thing about middle school is that EVERYONE feels insecure, unimportant, and average. But no one talks about it until they become more confident, more important, and above average in something. They say, “Oh remember middle school?? We were so awkward and insecure!”

 

Middle school is a time when the whole world seems to fall apart. I am beyond grateful that middle school is over. I’m glad life improves after those awful years.

 

Okay. So my purpose is not to tell all my followers about how awkward my middle school years were. I want to take this time to share my heart about being average.

The Dictionary describes the term as “typical; common; ordinary.” Who ever wants to be described like this?? It’s a real punch in the gut if someone was to call you ordinary. “Yeah, she’s not that great. Just a typical white girl. Nothing special about her.” Ouch.

 

No wonder when we studied and studied for a test and then get an average C, we would fall apart. Lies begin to scream at us that we aren’t good enough to stand out. We aren’t smart enough. And not only that, you go to the lunch room and then you’re not cool enough to sit with certain people. Or you try out for the volleyball or football team and the coach doesn’t cut you, but you sit on the bench and only play during practice.

 

Being average, we are taught at an early age, is a terrible thing. 

 

So when I got to college, I decided after my first semester of my junior year, that no one was going to tell me I was average anymore. I dropped school, bought a plane ticket to Hawaii, and ten days later, I was teaching in a private school on the Big Island. I was tired of being told I was too average or below average by the results of my grades. I went straight into ministry.

 

I wasn’t running from my problems, but I was tired of being declared something I was afraid to be all my life.

 

But today, I stopped.

 

I have been trying to be something so important. I have been striving for greatness since I was so young. Failing, miserably.

 

And don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there is something wrong for striving for greatness when it’s healthy. I think we should be striving for greatness because we serve a great God.

 

I have so many dreams, as you all know. But I have to continue to check myself that my dreams are centered around the King who created the passion in the first place.

 

Oh, and did I mention?? Jesus CHOSE average, common, ordinary men to be His followers for His last years on earth?? Yeah, they were called the twelve disciples. They were uneducated men that no one would have noticed if it hadn’t been for Jesus.

 

Did you get that?? NO ONE WOULD HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF THEM IF IT WASN’T FOR JESUS.

 

Because these men changed. They gave everything up to follow Him. And it resulted in persecution. I read in Acts 5 the other day that these men REJOICED when the council had beaten them. Why?? Because they were considered WORTHY enough to suffer for the name of Jesus.

 

WORTHY ENOUGH TO SUFFER FOR THE NAME OF JESUS.

 

Y’all, just like these ordinary men, I have NOTHING to offer. My grades were never good enough. I never EVER sat with the cool kids at lunch. And you can bet I never excelled in athletics or choir class.

 

I am an uneducated, ordinary woman. But praise be to God for using the average men and women in this world!!

 

The name of Jesus changes everything. I may still be average to the world… but to Jesus?? He saw me. He claimed me. He CHOSE me… just like His disciples. And you know what He said??

 

Marianna, I have given you something to say. So say it.

 

Jesus took ordinary people and gave them something to be bold in. Jesus took my average life and decided that He wanted more for me. 

 

People notice when an average person does something epic and extraordinary. Because no one wants to be average… but…

Jesus takes ordinary people like Peter. Like Moses. Like me. Like you. And He gives them something to say so that the world notices that God uses average people to proclaim the Good News.

 

So I refuse to be quiet. I refuse to keep quiet. Cause He has given me something to say.

 

And with that, I have the opportunity to speak in front of ICF church this upcoming Sunday.

Pray that Jesus intervenes for me. I don’t want to say a WORD if it’s not from His lips.

May Jesus be glorified.

 

And may we all remember that He uses us average, ordinary people, too.