Heaven coming to Earth... what does it look like?

Two years ago, I accepted the position as a Speech Therapist in a nearby school district. It was my first professional work experience and I was supposed to be the expert in speech and language; an expectation I feared I would not live up to. It was very difficult for me to feel confident to show these people Jesus because I was insecure about my abilities as a professional and since I was the new person on staff I was extra shy. But the desire to see Heaven invade my workplace burned deeply in my heart. I wanted the entire school district to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I wanted my caseload to become non-existent because all my students would be healed from ADHD, Autism, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and Speech Disorders. I wanted to pray with all of my co-workers; however, there was also a natural desire bubbling up from within me to fit in and be accepted by my co-workers and my students. So, how do I live for God in this situation? What does that look like each day? How do I make that my goal when I have natural work duties that need to be accomplished each day?
I often struggled with feeling that I was failing. I felt that there was so much on my plate and I wasn’t seeing major transformation in my school. I cried out to God and asked Him, “How do I do this? How do I live in a secular world for you? What does it look like to re-present Jesus here?”
In Africa this summer I learned some amazing lessons that I drew on for direction. Missionary Heidi Baker’s main teachings were “What is good news to the poor?” and “Stop for the one.” Now that I am back in America, working in a school, I find it is very easy to get caught up in “life.” Sometimes I get lost trying to get through my to-do list. I have to constantly remind myself to ask that question, “What is good news to this person today?” Though I’m not surrounded by those living in financial poverty every day, I am overwhelmingly surrounded by those who are poor in many other ways. At times these are more difficult to see because their poverty is covered up by success, material items, and things of this world. But don’t let that blind you to the cry that is inside of their hearts. We may be the only Jesus some people will ever encounter. They need to know His love and feel His compassion.
God began to open my eyes to the individual. He taught me the lesson of seeing the one person that He placed in my path in that very moment. What does this person need today, Nicole? Maybe it means I need to stop working on my paperwork and instead spend an hour listening to her story about her family situation. My paperwork will get done, though I may have to sacrifice my own time later. Or, maybe, I should follow up on that idea, the one I have been avoiding, to go pray with the gym teacher who is really sick. I could come in early each day and ask her if she would like to pray with me today. It could mean listening to the needy student who always stops by my office instead of telling her she needs to get back to class. She’s neglected at home, don’t neglect her at school.
When I narrow my focus down from saving this entire school district in a year, to meeting the needs of this one hurting person that God has placed before me today, I no longer feel overwhelmed. I feel excited because God is moving through me, changing me as he touches lives right in front of my eyes. Staying filled up with the Lord makes it much easier to be sensitive to His voice and feel His gentle nudges to smile at someone, or maybe today is a day I am to speak truth into their lives. Only God knows what needs lie deep in their hearts. He has given us the mind of Christ and Holy Spirit to reveal His thoughts to us. What a relief! We just need to tap into Him and He is the one who will transform our workplaces.



Nicole is a young adult who is in passionate pursuit of Father God's heart. She seeks the compassion and love of Jesus to share it with the world.

Got a story to share? Email youngadults@christcc.org