They were talking behind my back. Of course, at the time I didn’t know they were talking about me–I wasn’t there.

Situation 1:

She’s a young woman who appears to have it all together. But one Saturday, she breaks, cries to her Mom that although things look great on the outside, she’s falling apart on the inside…she can’t fake it anymore, and she doesn’t want to live like this any longer.

Mom, being wise, advises, “What you need is someone older than you who can be your friend and guide you through this time in life.” Daughter agrees she would like that. As Mom relates this idea, the name, Nina Burgett, runs through her mind.

The next day, without mentioning my name, Mom asks a trusted friend for a referral of someone who might spend some time and help her daughter navigate through her struggles. The friend immediately responds, “Yes, Nina Burgett.”

What a coincidence! Mom and I had only ever had one conversation, and I had never laid eyes on her daughter. My name comes to mind, then her trusted friend immediately refers to me?

They were talking behind my back, and I had no idea!

Situation 2:

The girl is 14. She’s strong, compassionate, a nurturer, independent. On the outside. On the inside, she’s full of anxiety and it pushes her back and holds her down to the point that she doesn’t want to be around groups of people without the security of her Mom or Dad. She’s controlled by the anxiety built up inside.

She knows Jesus. She knows He is her strength. She knows He loves her and is with her. She knows the anxiety is not from Him. But it still holds her back. Anxiety still controls her.

Dad and Mom live strong in the Lord. They have loved, taught, trained and coached in every way they know, yet their girl continues to live in fear. They agree it’s time for outside help to guide their girl into healthy patterns of thinking. In their discussion of how to select an appropriate professional counselor, they begin to talk about one more option to try before resorting to a licensed professional counselor: what about Nina Burgett? “What if she could share scripture and spiritual ways of thinking that would turn our daughter around, providing tools to overpower the anxiety?”

They were talking behind my back, and I had no idea!

I’m NOT tooting my own horn here!  I’m not a professional counselor. I don’t have all the answers. My only qualifications are that I did take some classes in seminary for Pastoral Counseling, and I do know the Word of God, and I do have experience integrating scriptural truth into everyday living.

But that’s not the Big Story.

The Big Story

The Big Story is they were talking behind my back, and I had no idea! The Big Story is that God was orchestrating circumstances involving me that I had nothing to do with and I had no idea it was even happening.

When things like this occur, it gets my attention! Don’t your ears perk up when you discover personal situations over which you had no control?

I’ve just recently met those in Situation 1, but my name came into her mind–I wasn’t there! I know those in Situation 2, but even though I don’t fit the qualifications they were considering for their solution, my name came into their minds–I wasn’t there!

Is this supernatural or just a coincidence?

I think this is what Paul is referring to when he writes in Colossians 1: 5, 6, “...the gospel…which has come to you… is constantly bearing fruit and increasing…”  Yes, it’s supernatural! It’s the powerfully alive Gospel of God!

Both situations feature people who follow the way of Christ. Again, here’s The Big Story: God is going to do whatever it takes to grow His children into the mature family members He desires for them to be. He increases His gospel through the knowledge of Himself (verses 6 and 10), and one of the methods He uses to reveal Himself is through people: people sharing their knowledge of Him with other people.

So my answer is Yes! Yes, I will spend time with these girls and grapple through their struggles. You know what’s funny? I’ve struggled with some of the same issues in my past, and God’s gospel has increased in me such that the struggle is not present–it’s in my past. But I haven’t forgotten what it took to fight those demons and come out the winner of those battles. Can you identify?

Here’s the Happy Ending to The Big Story: The Gospel Increases Exponentially.

The Increase

When we as an Individual experience the increase within, we pass it on, creating the Collective Increase. This is what we have experienced in our lives since trusting Christ. When we are sharing with another who has trusted Christ, they can expect the very same. Take a moment to recall times God has used you to speak into someone’s life, based on your own increase.  This is how Increase happens exponentially!

The Increase Opportunity

I see 3 Phases we can look for with every Increase Opportunity. Paul develops the concept in Colossians 1:9-12 (I’ve adapted from the wording in Eugene Peterson’s The Message.)

The Beginning:

• As you grow in relationship with God, He gives you a wise mind and spirit attuned to His will

• You acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works

• You join with God as He works in you, participating with His work within you

The Transition:

• You have the strength to persevere — the “glory-strength God gives” for endurance and patience in the processes of life

• You look forward to the continued joy of “living in the light of Jesus”

The Process

• What God Already Did: When you placed your faith in Jesus, He rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and transferred you to His Kingdom of Light

• What You Now Need to Do: destroy any darkness you have allowed to remain, then step into the rhythms of grace with Jesus.

Increase is a series of steps leading to the outcome of maturity. I know you can look into your own life and identify specific experiences when God was increasing His gospel in you. What you see is maturity, bearing fruit like inner strength, endurance, patience, joy, gratefulness. This increase is our inheritance as God’s Family!

Having experienced the Increase ourselves, we are equipped and empowered to share Increase with that one God places in our paths. Just as we have experienced the Increase within ourselves, we can coach another and pray through these phases for that one as we navigate with them through their own increase.

As you navigate with that one, sharing the increase, look for the 3 Phases, share Colossians 1, and pray these verses over that one who was orchestrated by God to spend time with you.

Don’t Be Fooled

Be aware: if you are living the way of Christ, someone may be talking behind your back. Regardless of how it comes about, God is orchestrating a situation where you can share the fruit of what He has put inside you: His character. I can truthfully say that because God uses people to sharpen other people.

And there’s no reason to be afraid or lack confidence in that relationship! Why? Because you and I do not cause the Increase — you and I simply participate in God’s giving of the Increase. 

Who Is It For You?

• Is it one who lives in your house who needs your love?

• Is it an encounter with a total stranger who needs some light in their life?

• Is it your best friend who needs honesty?

• Is it someone older than you who needs encouragement?

• Is it one who’s younger who needs some coaching?

Reiterating the words of Eugene Peterson: “God gives you a wise mind and a spirit attuned to His will”. I am praying for the encounters God is orchestrating for you, as you go about your everyday.

Will you pray for me? Let’s live this life together. Let’s join Him as He develops The Beginning, The Transition & The Process in each other.

I believe we can join Paul in his encouragement to some of his friends: I am “…constantly bearing in mind your work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope…the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you…”  (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 8)

Together, let’s be a community that is focused on the Increase of God’s work in our own lives, as well as in the lives of those He places in our paths. Let’s be intentional to participate with the Increase of God’s Gospel–Individually and Collectively!