Past Into Purpose Story Series – Post 4

BookCover_YLSCThis series is intended to introduce you to the women on the Your Life Still Counts Contributor Team whose inspiring stories of pain into purpose were selected for inclusion in the book.  To read the full story of each contributor, click here to purchase your copy of Your Life Still Counts and be inspired to allow God to turn your past into your purpose too.

Please meet Faith Miller

( name changed for privacy reasons)

“Faith” lives in West Miffin, Pennsylvania. Faith is now a volunteer in a local effort to help women who are struggling in their marriages. She teaches young women about finding security in God and strives to be a positive and supportive mother to her daughters. She currently shares her story with others as God leads, has led teen Bible studies, and helped launch a young adult ministry at her church. She and her husband serve at marriage conferences, and she also created and writes an inspirational blog for women.

Faith has chosen to remain anonymous about her story, out of respect and concern for the other people involved, but she has allowed God to use her experiences to shape her life and her heart in ways that allow her to minister to others out of her experiences. 

 

My interview with Faith

Me: What made you want to contribute your story to Your Life Still Counts? 

Faith: I just felt God was leading me to share my story. I know God will use it for His glory and I hope it helps someone see that He can use our mistakes for good and His purposes. I trust Him to show His faithfulness and bring about healing in other’s lives through my testimony,  just as He continues to heal my heart.

Me: How has God opened doors for you to do ministry or touch other’s hearts since you stepped out in obedience to share your story?

Faith: God led me a while back to do a Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study which stirred a desire to write a blog about my faith. I typically keep to myself but I felt inspired to write about what God was and is doing in my life. God seemed to speak to me to begin teaching young ladies about His love and how they can find their security in Him through small group studies. I felt led to start a young adult ministry at my church which seems to be evolving into a women’s ministry. My marriage has had its challenges and recognizing the hurt that I caused in someone else’s marriage, it became a passion for my husband and I to volunteer and pray for couples during marriage conferences. I see God’s hand working all around me and am in awe of His love and grace over my life. I want to share that with others.

Me: I know how hard it is to acknowledge how our choices might have hurt others, so I so admire how you have allowed God to use your experiences to give you a special passion for speaking God’s principles and promises into young marriages. How has God blessed you in a special way for your obedience in sharing your story with others?

Faith: God has blessed me in that He continues working on me daily. Sharing my story is just a part of my own healing process. It is an ongoing journey with new discoveries about who God is every day and I love learning more of His character. I also have enjoyed making connections with other women who have experienced His amazing grace in their lives and are willing to share their stories as well.

Me: Do you have one example of how God has used your story recently to impact someone’s heart or life?

Faith: I recently shared my story in the small group study that I lead. We are studying God’s love for us and learning how He uses all things for our good according to His purpose. After I shared my testimony, the other young women spoke of God’s work in their lives and that they are learning to be more open to His guiding hand. They are recognizing that nothing that happens in this life is a coincidence but that God is in control and orchestrating beautiful purposes just as He knit them together and designed every part of who they are.

Me: That is so awesome. To see God using our stories, and be inspired by the stories of other women who God has brought us together with, is always incredible.  So have you felt called to do anything new lately like a new project or ministry endeavor?

Faith: Yes!  I am a teacher in a public school and I have felt God calling me to lead a devotion/prayer group once a week in my school with my colleagues. The doors He has opened have been so encouraging to me. I met several obstacles as I made sure the group would remain lawful but God put all the pieces together and we started meeting at the beginning of November. It is certainly a privilege. I feel a bit out of my comfort zone with my colleagues as I am unaware of their backgrounds but I feel that this is yet another step to God revealing more of my purpose.

Me: Now THAT excites me. We all have to respect the laws governing sharing our religious beliefs in our workplace, but how awesome that God has opened doors for you to share with your colleagues. Where there is a will, and a God, there is always a way. 🙂  So what are you most passionate about right now?

Faith: I am passionate about seeking God and learning more about Him each day. I pray that this passion for Him is present in everything I do, from being a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and teacher to being a servant and ministry leader. I just seek to reflect His light in a dark world. I love the people God has put in my life to encourage me and pray over me. Their support has been a gift. I am passionate about sharing how God has used me and what He has revealed to me through my past. Mostly, I enjoy singing His praise because it is all for Him and I stand forgiven and redeemed…a new creation. What an amazing God!

Me: Do you have anything else really special on your heart that you are working on right now for Christ?

Faith: Just trying to remain open and be obedient for Him to work through me. I am trying to lead by example especially when it comes to teaching my two little daughters about how special they are in His eyes. I pray they turn to Him for love and attention rather than a false counterfeit that the world offers them. Someday, I will share my story with them, right now, I need to live changed and never lose sight of what Christ did for me.

Me: I so agree; with two my daughters myself. I share your passion for helping them understand their value in God’s eyes and helping them find self confidence, rather than looking to men for approval and acceptance.  If you had to name one thing that you are most thankful to God for today,  what would it be?

Faith: I am so thankful for His love and that He didn’t leave me where I was. He melted away my bitterness and shame. He convicted me and helped me see who I am to Him. I am thankful He called me into specific ministry opportunities, based on my past.

Me: So friend, how might people pray for you at this time in your life?

Faith: Please pray protection over my marriage and family, my church family, and the people I am ministering to…that we may stand firm in Satan’s attacks. Pray for my continued healing and for those that are supporting me in this journey that they may have His strength. I also need wisdom for me to discern His will over my own desires/ego.

Me: Thank you for your honesty Faith, and I pray that many will pray for you around the country when they read this post. So last question …. what are you most excited about regarding how God has turned your past into your purpose?

Faith: I am just filled with this sense of awe that God is using me. I want other women to become open to His purpose. He is with me every step and my true excitement stems from this feeling that His power is limitless. It knows no bounds. I have no idea how He is going to use this book (Your Life Still Counts) or my story to specifically touch someone else’s life but I trust that He will be faithful to move and inspire. I trust that lives will be changed, because He is at work. I pray that we are passing on the hope in Jesus Christ that through Him and in Him we are more than conquerors.

**************

Although Faith remains anonymous, she does write on an inspirational blog. Please visit her at https://faithonwaves.wordpress.com/

To read Faith’s story excerpt, please check out the Her Story section in Chapter Five of Your Life Still Counts.  

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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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