Woman with Needs - Woman with Gifts

We are all woman of need and if I asked you where in your life you find yourself most needy, what would you tell me? Perhaps at present you find yourself needy emotionally. Maybe your need can be described as depression, anger, or anxiety. Or perhaps yours is a physical need, a handicap or illness. There may be financial needs or spiritual needs. Sometimes I find myself saying; "I need a break", or "I need a vacation!" Other times I find myself in a more serious and desperate state of neediness that struggles with seeing any light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever might be your need today, it is a fact that we are all woman of need and that our needs vary from one another.

Psalm 40:17 says; "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me." Psalm 70:5 says; "But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God!" And Psalm 86:1; "Bow down Your ear O Lord, hear me, for I am poor and needy."

David in these verses expresses openly his needy state before God. Being aware of our own needs in life is one thing. Being able to express our need to God and to others can be more challenging. Why? Because in sharing our need, we may expose our vulnerable side. It often knocks at the door of our pride and therefore requires brokeness, humility and a dependency on God and others to help us with our need.

God does promise to be there for us and He often uses others in our lives to help us in our time of need. From the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 Jesus calls those in their state of neediness whether mournful, broken, poor in spirit, or persecuted as those blessed with great promises. In Philippians 4:19 we read that God promises to supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We are not only woman with needs but we are also woman with gifts and if I were to ask you what you consider to be the gift or gifts you have received, what would you tell me? Perhaps you consider your greatest gift to be salvation through Jesus Christ. God has also given each of His children one or more spiritual gifts. And as woman with these gifts, we are encouraged to use those gifts for His glory. James 1:17 tells us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." Just as our needs as woman vary from one another, so too vary the gifts we are blessed to receive from our Heavenly Father.

How often do we acknowledge the Giver of every good and perfect gift we have? The very breath we breathe is a gift from Him. Even pain, struggle, and trials are gifts from God when we accept them knowing they are given with a greater divine purpose beyond what might be our present understanding. In Romans 5 we read that we "also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and persevarance, character, and character, hope." Perseverance, character, and hope in our lives are gifts from God.

We are woman with needs and we are woman with gifts. (And by now you are probably wondering where I'm going with this!?) 2 Thessalonians helps illustrate how our needs and our gifts can be tied together beautifully when they are wrapped in the Father's love.

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

Our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and it is vital as woman with needs and as woman with gifts that we receive this love that He lavishly gives to each one of us.

It is the love of the Father that as woman with needs we are given an "everlasting consolation, an everlasting comfort and good hope by grace" that is able to meet our every need.

It is the love of the Father that as woman with gifts we can be "established", to make use of the good and perfect gifts we have in "every good word and work".

Without our Heavenly Fathers love, our needs could easily defeat us. We may lose our perspective of our good God doing that deeper work of refining and maturing our faith, as well as our total dependence on Him who promises to meet our every need.

Without our Heavenly Fathers love, our gifts could easily be considered as something we deserve or earned out of our own efforts. We may become prideful, keep our gifts to ourselves, not willing to share freely with others.

Our needs and our gifts need to be wrapped up together in the love of our Heavenly Father. Whatever situation you find yourself in today, consider 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. May it be the encouragement to acknowledge your own need(s) and as well may it be the encouragement to use your gift(s) and all for the glory of God.