The blog prompt for this year had me stumped. What are my words to the Word? When I decided to get more “serious” with my spirituality, I spent a lot of time reading the Bible with a highlighter in my hand. I would intentionally give my focus to the Gospels, identifying words that Jesus said that I would want to have easy access to. Words like, “Do not be afraid, just believe.” Sentences like “…all things are possible for those who believe.” The Word spoke powerful words. Words that motivate, words that give hope, words that encourage, words that stand up against systems of power, words that give value to those who others constantly tried to push down.
But this is not about the words from the Word but words to the Word. And as I write this, I can’t help but face the reality of what I have done for so many years. I spent many hours memorizing words from the Word while devaluing my own words. I feel at times that I don’t have words worthy enough to be said. I feel at times that my words are too simple. I feel at times that other people can say things better than me. I feel at times that there is someone else who people would rather hear from or who would use even better words to get the same message across. I feel that because I have not completed a certain level of education or that I have not been pastoring for a certain number of years, my words will not be accepted by others. How can I have words to the Word when I feel like my words can be so worthless?
When these questions that question my own words come up, I pause and remember a story where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” and I hear Jesus asking that question to me. It reminds me that my opinion matters, my story matters, my perspective matters. Jesus asks each and every one of us that question because each and every one of us has a word that matters, no matter our gender, education, background, or age, and sometimes we only learn to believe this by sharing these words with the Word directly. I may never be able to preach like Pastors Iki, Raewyn, Elizabeth, or Devo, but I am slowly learning that there are words in me that matter, that there are words in all of us that matter, and those words deserve to be heard.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for hearing me. Thank you for the words you have for us. More than that, thank you for the words you inspire us to say. Help me to quiet the noise that makes me want to be silent, and tune into your words that encourage me to use my voice. I will commit myself to sharing the words you put in my heart so that others may be encouraged, that they may have hope and that they may be reminded of the value that you have already given them. These are my words to you.
Amen.
Benjamin Amoah is youth pastor at the La Sierra University Church. He’s looking forward to creating Detroit Deep Dish pizzas over the holidays.