God Needs You

I was told my whole life from stages in Christian circles that God doesn’t need us. I mean, how could the Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end have needs? He’s omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient…He doesn’t need anything. Right?

It sounds right. It sounds humble. Yet, if that’s the case, let’s stop telling people they have purpose and value.

The fact is, God does need us. Because without us, He chooses to do nothing. Without us, He chooses to love no one. The 'God doesn’t need us' message takes away the importance of how significant you are to Him.

Does God intervene supernaturally? Absolutely! But for the most part, He empowers people to bring change.

There have been a lot of conversations around race lately. I’m glad, because change needs to happen. And the only way change is going to happen is if people step up, come together with real unity, and sacrifice for each other. The race problem (just like any other problem) isn’t going to change just because we pray for it. The race problem (and others) will only change when the people of our society decide to change the way we view and treat people. 

The heartbreaking reality in America is as soon as you start speaking up for others like Jesus, people will always start looking for stones. Honestly, this past year I’ve wanted to quit as a pastor more than any other time in my 14 years of ministry. I’ve wanted to disassociate from “the church” as I’ve seen how many proclaiming Christians around this country respond to those who vote differently and those who are hurting, specifically the black community. I’ve wanted to stop writing as I’ve received more backlash and surprisingly, lost respect from others just because I bring another perspective.

Then I heard the whisper of the Spirit one night several months ago as I was crying in my bed… "I need you.” It’s not a statement of arrogance. It’s not a statement of pride. It’s a statement to every single created human being. If you weren’t needed, God wouldn’t have created you. You have purpose! You have value! You have the power within to expand the Kingdom of God here and now. It was a reminder to me that if I give up when everything around me feels hopeless, then my eyes weren’t focused on the right thing. If I give up doing the hard work because it’s…hard…then change won’t ever happen. Without standing, even in the midst of opposition, we’ll never be the change this world so desperately needs. 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9