Be Inspired

I was reading a Facebook post of a dear friend last week. I was inspired by what she wrote. The anniversary of her husband’s successful liver transplant was upon them and while she praised God for this miracle, she did something even more amazing. She asked for everyone to pray for the family of the person who donated the organ to her husband. As her family was celebrating an anniversary of joy and blessing, she knew on that same day another family was suffering and remembering the loss of a loved one.

This post inspired me because it was such a great reminder to think of others more than ourselves. Throughout her husband’s illness and long wait on the transplant list while his health declined, she clung to her faith in God. She placed her complete trust in the Lord and chose to see where He was working in the midst of a very challenging time.

She was a constant inspiration to all who walked through this journey with their family because she chose to trust God, look for where He was working and share with others what He was doing. Sometimes it was something as simple as a smile or a gentle hand on her shoulder. It is amazing what a smile or gentle touch can do to show someone you care. Because she was bold enough in her faith to share what God was doing and how He was using others to minister to her and her family during this time, others were inspired and encouraged and their faith was strengthened.

In a time when you would think she and her family needed inspiration and encouragement, they provided it for others because of their amazing faith in God. It is not easy or natural to inspire others when you are suffering but if you are able to put your faith and trust in God and allow Him to work in and through you, you will bear fruit that will benefit others.

In the midst of the waiting she had an encounter with the Lord. One night as she was praying for her husband, the Lord impressed upon her to pray for the donor and his/her family. It was a moment that forever changed her perspective and the perspective of those around her. It was an immediate change of focus from herself, her husband and what they were facing to earnestly pray for the one’s who would be providing the answer to their prayers.

I vividly remember talking to her late one night about this and was immediately convicted myself for not looking beyond my friend and her situation. The Lord put a burden on my heart to pray for the family that would be providing the answer to the prayer. Many began to fervently pray for this family and the sacrifice they would be making, the suffering they would be facing and ultimately the blessing they would be providing.

The friend has had no contact with the donor family but still prays for them and praises the Lord for their willingness to give the gift of life through their sacrifice. She prays the Lord will continue to comfort them and give them peace and most of all that they would know and love him the way she does.

It would have been natural to celebrate the anniversary of a successful transplant and only focus on the good that came from it, but instead my friend decided to focus on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for her husband. Take some time today to look around and put someone else’s needs above your own. Pray for someone, encourage them and ask the Lord to work in and through you so you might inspire someone else.

Philippians 2:3-4

³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

• Photo by Shelly Sorem
• Scripture from http://www.biblegateway.com

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