The Life-Changing Voicemail Parable
One day I was sitting in my apartment alone. I was in an extremely bad place in my life. I was divorced, struggling as a single mom, and feeling like my life was going nowhere fast. I still loved God but had spent a few years in hiding. I felt like my calling and destiny was over and that I would spend the rest of my life sitting on the sidelines and praying my daughter would have it better than me one day.
However, behind the scenes of my complacent and hopeless condition were praying parents and loved ones who tried to bring encouragement to me. However, in my state, I felt as if I let down the people I loved, and maybe it would just be better to stay away and stay quiet. At that moment, I was not able to receive truth because I determined that my life would remain out of sight and mediocre. I would not place myself in a position to get hurt or disappoint others again. I would love God from a distance and know my place—a place not worthy of ever doing what He called me to.
As I sat there alone, depressed and hopeless I saw that my phone was flashing with a voicemail message. I had a land line at the time and had not checked my messages in some time. I decided to check my messages and the message I would hear would change my life forever.
The message said, “While I was praying God brought your name to my spirit, and He wants you to know that He is not through with you, you still have great purpose and it is time to get moving. It is time to get out of hiding and time for you to move forward in the call and destiny God has for you. Now get up and get moving! I love you and am praying for you. Get moving!”
Those words penetrated my soul, and I cried and cried. The pain I suppressed and the wall I had built up in my heart started to crumple. The person who left that message wasn’t someone I talked to often. This person did not have to waste time leaving me a message. This person could have made excuses and said no, or walk in judgement and ignore God’s prompting. However, if this person had not been obedient, or of the message was delivered at a time other than when God instructed it to be given, I would not be writing this parable to you today. It was a word in due season, and that season was one of great restoration and assurance that God had not given up on me, and that He could still use me and have me walk out the call and destiny He placed me on this earth to do.
I played that message over and over again for as many years as I kept that land line. Today, on my 39th birthday, I write this as a whole, healed and complete woman of God. Life is not perfect, but I am moving forward each day and moving forward to help bring the same encouragement I was given on that life-changing voicemail. Because of this person’s obedience to God through His words and on His timing, the message was received loud and clear, and my life changed because of it. I am forever grateful.
By the way, at that time, that message was left by a woman I knew from my old church named Jamie Morgan, who years later is now my beloved pastor.
Today I want to encourage whoever is reading this that you have purpose. You matter. God has not given up on you or your call no matter what has happened in your life, or not matter how many mistakes you have made. He loves you and provided a way through His Son Jesus for you to have eternal and abundant life. Some of you have been sitting on the sidelines for too long. Some of you have given up your dreams and the God’s call. It’s time to get moving. I love you and am praying for you. Get moving!!!!
Reflect Do you feel like I did before my life changing voicemail? Or, has God given you a message of hope to bring to someone?
Meditate Read the following scriptures, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the life lessons you can apply to your life right now concerning obeying God’s timing to change lives and encourage others:
The Book of Jonah Hebrews 3:13 Ephesians 4:29 Hebrews 10:25
Act Take the words of encouragement I have shared with you and get moving! If God has prompted you to bring truth, encouragement and love to someone, be instantly obedient. It could be the difference between destinies or washed up dreams or even life and death for the intended recipients. Get moving and keep moving!
