Has God ever used someone to drastically change your life, but they never knew it? Or maybe you’ve been an instrument of change in a person’s life, only to find out years later. One beautiful aspect of following God’s prompting in our lives is that He uses us to impact others for the better, often without acknowledgement or affirmation this side of eternity.

One woman who unknowingly helped me as a newly divorced mother of two toddlers is contemporary Christian singer Amy Grant. I would wake up each morning and squeeze in a run before getting my kids up and off to school and myself to my corporate job. I listened to her song, “El Shaddai,” nearly every day on my run during that painful season.

Looking back, I don’t know what I would have done without God’s strength, my kiddos, and Amy’s music to encourage me and help me face each new day. Little did I know that 15 years later, I would sit across the table from Amy and get to share how deeply she impacted my life and helped me through one of the most trying times in my life.

In January 2011, my husband Chris and I traveled to Nashville with our son for a college visit. One evening, our dear friend who hosted us told us she had a text from Amy, who wanted to have us over for coffee the next morning. “Amy who?” I asked. “Amy Grant!” Tears started to roll down my face as I realized I would finally have the chance to share with Amy how her music got me through my horrible divorce 15 years earlier.

When we arrived at her home the next morning, I was so emotional that every picture we took together has mascara running down my face. It was a precious few hours of talking and praying together that I will never forget. We became special friends that day, and she has been following 4word since the beginning. I continued to pray that one day she would be able to join us at 4word’s annual gala, and in God’s perfect timing she joined us this February for one of the most special weekends of my life. I am so grateful that I not only had the opportunity to share with Amy how deeply she impacted my life, but also to form a special friendship that continues to this day.

My “Amy Grant story” is just one example of how God uses His followers to deeply impact the lives of others. Sometimes we are a catalyst for a significant change or complete 180 degree turn in someone’s life, whether we know it at the time or not. In fact, I believe that we will never know the full impact of following God’s will until heaven, when we will see the ways He used us without our knowledge and without earthly recognition or praise.

If you’ve experienced life change because of the encouragement or example of another and they don’t yet know it, reach out today and share how much their role in your life has meant to you. And if God has used you to impact another’s life through mentoring, or even just a passing encouraging word, keep up the good work – you are storing up treasures in heaven!

You could be someone’s “Amy Grant!” The 4word Mentor Program is now accepting applications for mentees and mentors until April 21st! (The session begins May 19th and goes for 10 weeks) Take this special opportunity to be an influence in someone’s life and allow God to use you as a tool in His plan. Click here to apply today!

——

Please click here to receive these impactful blogs automatically to your inbox.

——