Angela Breidenbach is a multi-award-winning inspirational speaker, popular conference presenter, and author of the Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life and the new Kindle release of Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guideposts, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She connects missions to her work with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, Montana. Angela Breidenbach on the web: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com, http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com, and http://TheFaithGirls.com on Wednesdays each week. 

Visit her Christian Speakers Service page for speaker bookings.

What if one moment you could do everything for yourself and the next you’d require help with minor chores? What would that do to your sense of self, productivity, and pride?

I learned something the hard way. Doubling my efforts in exercise can cause stress fractures when the shoes I use are worn out. Yes, God allowed me to be benched for a season due to injury. Right on the brink of a heavy travel schedule I’ve learned to rely on creativity, flexibility, and—gasp—others to meet my needs.

Are you like me? Someone who prefers to do it all herself? It’s not a big deal to ask for something simple. Something that doesn’t really cause others to go out of their way. Something small that doesn’t make you feel . . . beholden. But it is ever so humbling to need more than your “fair share” of help and favors. Why is that?

Technically my sense of self is fine, but I don’t like asking for help. I have an independent streak. God had plans for me to learn dependence. He wanted me to rely on Him and not my own might. That meant allowing God to work through others, to stop limiting His love and the way it’s displayed. The sense of God’s presence in our lives is often displayed through a servant’s heart. How surprising when God asks us to allow another to serve instead!

What could possibly be beneficial about an injury? My productivity soared! Writers ask me, “How did you finish so many books?” The seasoned multi-published author responds, “By sitting my rear in the chair and writing.” It sounds flippant, but it’s profound. The first day I had to stay 100 percent off my broken foot, I finished several short projects. I researched for a proposal, wrote a major portion of said proposal, then logged more written words than I’d done in a long time. Why? Because I couldn’t do anything else. I couldn’t play the procrastination game.

By the way, that game is famous for lowering confidence and self-esteem. The more you procrastinate, the lower your confidence. It’s like a brilliant, undiscovered logarithm. The injury forced me to stay in one place and blessed me with higher productivity. Eh, okay, at least there’s a bit of a light to this hard knock. My self-confidence went up a few notches in completing those projects. I began to believe in my ability to produce quality work during regular business hours—a breakthrough for a gal who thought her magic hours could only happen after nine at night.

What happens when others don’t want to help? Their resistance, irritation, and frustration causes me to shrink a little inside. What about you? The no-can-do attitude makes it harder to ask for help the next time, doesn’t it? I know my pride took a hit when I was given the brush-off. It was hard to work up the courage to stand up for myself and insist I needed help. I saw a change of heart when the person realized his callous behavior.

What if the Lord is using your weakness to minister to the heart of that person? Imagine yourself watching the story of your life played back in the throne room. Those moments that felt the most humbling morph into a golden opportunity that God used you to directly affect the faith life of another. Just because you don’t see the result here and now doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

Think about how we treat others. Most of the time, serving is easy and carries kudos. It’s fun to bask in the gratitude and recognition of a good deed. Then come those inconvenient situations. Is it possible someone else is being used to teach or reach our hearts with a message God planned to display His glory, love, and strength? Being on the receiving end offered me the chance to look at a servant’s heart concept from different perspectives. I’m curious what that throne room movie will be like. God’s strength shines when you’re at your weakest.

Here is a recipe that begs for group participation. In fact, you might choose to pick up an ice cream ball and turn freezing your dessert into a game by rolling and tossing a ball around the group until it’s ready to serve! It’s all about sharing your life with others in the work, play, and final rewards. Here, the reward happens to be delicious!

Chocolate Blackberry Ice Milk
Smooth, creamy, luscious, and just a tad healthy!
(Makes about 5 quarts)

4 beaten eggs
2 ½ cups sugar
½ tsp. salt
4 cups nonfat half-and-half
4 cups 2% milk
1 pint or more smashed fresh blackberries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
1 cup dark chocolate sugar-free syrup

Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Put in your ice cream freezer and follow the directions. Most require alternating crushed ice with rock salt. Pour a cup of cold water ½ way up the ice/salt layering and one more cup over the top layer. The trick to a good freeze using enough salt over the ice. The finer the rock salt, the smoother the ice cream. It comes out soft serve and you can store it in the freezer until ready to serve if you prefer a hard ice cream.