You just never know

I had a really encouraging conversation tonight with a friend I met in Brazil last summer.  During my last Sunday in the country, I was given the opportunity to preach at Acacias Community Church, and I felt like I really bombed.  Since things were being translated, I went nearly an hour (it takes double the time), and I even saw some people sleeping in the middle of the message!  I was so frustrated afterwards for not shortening things and rethinking my words.  And then I had a conversation tonight with my friend.  Apparently the week he got back to work from his trip to Brazil was rough, and the Lord used the sermon I thought was an absolute failure to help him through the challenges.  His words were such a reminder to me that the real issue isn't how well I "perform."  God can still speak through us and use us in ways we don't even understand when we fall short of our own expectations.  You just never know how God might use you as His mouthpiece, hands, or feet, even if you don't realize it at the time.  It's just one more way that He turns the glory back to Himself.