if you’re in need of a miracle – #tellhisstory

May 3, 2016 | 53 comments

miracles

For years, I lived a life without faith. I put Jesus in the same category as comic-book action figures: strong and mighty on paper, but pure fiction and utterly useless in times of need.

I remained faithless until I responded to this strong sense, thumping inside of me, that I finally needed to tell someone about the depth of my doubt. I didn’t know until later that the nudge was the Holy Spirit.

That was 16 years ago.

Last week, I drove to Wisconsin to share the gospel at a women’s conference. In a few months, I have a new book releasing. For the last eight years, I have been writing stories of faith on this blog. If you would have told me 16 years ago, that I would have a speaking and writing ministry for Jesus, I would have told you that you were crazy.

cordless microphone

Sometimes people ask me if I believe in miracles. I always tell them, “Of course I believe in miracles. I am one.” My miracle started with a single first step of faith — at a time when I didn’t even have a mustard seed of faith.

Maybe you are in need of a miracle, too. Maybe it’s a miracle of faith, of healing, of reconciliation. Maybe God is whispering to you today: Take the first step. Listen to the nudge … in you!

Every miracle begins with a single step of faith:

“Have the people sit down,” Jesus told his disciples, when thousands of hungry people needed food. (John 6:10)

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk,” Jesus told a sick man. (John 5:8)

“Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam,” Jesus commanded the blind man. (John 9:7)

“Lazarus, come out!” Jesus called out to a dead man. (John 11:43)

Each miracle began with a single act of faith. In each of those stories, the person on the receiving end of the miracle had to respond to the command of Jesus. It was the original call-and-response.

As the saying goes, “you can’t walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.”

Jesus is calling to you, out on the water, “Come.”

Take the first step, he says. Because that’s where the miracle begins.

single step

#TellHisStory

Hey Tell His Story crew! It is a joy to gather here every week with you. The linkup goes live each Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CT). If you would use the badge on your blog, found here, that would be great! And if you would visit at least one other blogger in the link-up and encourage them with a comment, that would be beautiful! Be sure to check the sidebar later. I’ll be featuring one of you over there! Our featured writer this week is Alisa Nicaud. Too often, we shy away from talking about the broken and barren places. That’s why I wanted to make sure to share Alisa’s encouraging words with you today. Find Alisa here. To be considered as our featured writer, be sure to use our badge or a link to my blog from your post. 🙂 xo Jennifer


by | May 3, 2016 | 53 comments

53 Comments

  1. Angela Howard

    Such an encouragement! It made me consider…”What step of faith will I make today?” Thank you!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Great question for each of us to ask ourselves. Thank you, Angela.

      Reply
  2. Kristina Notestine

    He is telling me “let go and come”. Encouraging words knowing that God is working.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Praying that you have the God-inspired courage to take the steps he is asking you to take, Kristina.

      Reply
  3. Tiffany

    Love those Holy Spirit nudges. Oh, for the ears to hear and the heart to obey.

    Reply
  4. Mary

    Thank you for words that hit me right where I am. God is the producer of beautiful miracles and I have experienced that in my own life. I needed this reminder to center me again that saying “yes” in faith produces miracles. Thank you for sharing your story and letting us share our own.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      It’s my pleasure to serve with words. Grateful for you here, Mary.

      Reply
  5. Anita

    Thank you for the encouragement, Jennifer :). That first step can seem so onerous, but in reality, it’s just a little tiny movement in the right direction–which gets momentum flowing in the right direction!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Amen. Just a tiny movement in the right direction. So true!

      Reply
  6. Michele Morin

    You’re helping me to see that every act of obedience is a miracle of grace. This puts me in the right place — asking for help instead of trying to muscle my way through on my own.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      So glad these words spoke to you, Michele.

      Reply
  7. PleasingtothePotter

    Jennifer,
    Faith is an word of “Action” not just waiting is something I continue to learn. Yes we want to rest in Him but God wants to see our faith as we take that first step. Thank you for sharing your story Jennifer. it looks as though God is working through you for His glory. Wishing you continued blessings in Christ my friend.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Thanks, my friend! It’s always a pleasure to see you here in the comments.

      Reply
  8. Dawn

    I can’t express how much these words were a balm today, Jennifer, but because you wrote them from a place of deep knowing…I think you may understand. Thank you for putting faith seeds into motion here, casting forth hope and grace with expectation.❤️

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Hey Dawn … Glad you’re here. Glad these words spoke to you. Every day… EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. we are walking miracles, taking the next step in the first day of the rest of our lives. xo

      Reply
  9. Carly

    I love the encouragement that “Every miracle begins with a single step of faith”. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like much but if we are willing to take that one step of faith it can pave the way for God to do great things.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Amen … Thanks Carly.

      Reply
  10. Martha Orlando

    I love what you say here about being a miracle yourself when others ask you if you believe in them. Yes! We all are and we are all His beloved children. Like you, Jennifer, I didn’t want anything to do with God or Jesus. But the Lord never gave up on me, and how I rejoice in that first baby step of faith I took!
    Thank you for your encouraging words today. Blessings!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      I don’t think I knew that about your story, Martha! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  11. Lynn D. Morrissey

    Well, the Holy Spirit has sometimes had to shove me, Jennifer :-), but I take your point. The beauty is that He gives us the power and courage to take the step in the first place, and always meets us there. And then . . . oh my! The places we’ll travel with Him. So glad that you are on this journey. I love watching your life, to see what He’ll do next. Love you.
    Lynn

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      I TOTALLY agree, Lynn. I’ve been shoved, and sometimes carried, in order to take the first steps of a new journey. Grateful for you, my friend. Love you.

      Reply
  12. Nancy Ruegg

    Such empowerment in just nine words: “Every miracle begins with a single step of faith!” Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your story and encouraging us to take our first steps toward those dreams or goals God has planted in our hearts.

    Reply
  13. Karrilee Aggett

    I love you. That is all.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Right back at ya, sister.

      Reply
  14. Christine Duncan

    Just shared this with a sweet soul who needed words like these…. who am I kidding, we all need words like these, but they will speak to their circumstance so well, Jennifer… grateful for you always. Blessings.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      I am so glad you shared these words, Christine. I’m grateful for you, too. xo

      Reply
  15. Tara Ulrich

    Boy did I need to read this today. So much THIS: “Every miracle begins with a single step of faith” I love your examples. I took a single step tonight and wrote about it over at my blog.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      So glad these words came at the right time for you, Tara.

      Reply
  16. Deborah Will

    God is the author of miracles. Like you reminded us we are one.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      It’s so easy to overlook the obvious. But, yeah, we are miracles. Every one of us.

      Reply
  17. Lori Schumaker

    Amen, Jennifer! We must take that step to experience the miracle!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

    Reply
  18. Anna Smit

    Thank you for your continued encouragement, Jennifer. Little steps lead to big things in and through Christ! Praying and trusting the little steps I and the Body of Christ around me have taken in the past few months will bear fruit this Sunday (book release day)….lots of things going and gone wrong, but still trusting He’s got this!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      Dear Lord, Be with Anna this week as she launches her book! Be her guide, her strength, her peace, her ever-present help in time of need! We pray for the people who will read Anna’s words, that their hearts will be stirred to fall deeper in love with You. Amen.

      Reply
      • Anna Smit

        Thank you, Jennifer. God is powerful! The book has been released: praise be to His glorious Name!! I’ll be sending you a copy soon. God is always faithful. Praying it blesses each and every person who reads it.

        Reply
  19. Susan

    I love the way Holy Spirit begins weaving a theme throughout posts! This week? Miracles and Hope – because Hope Changes Everything!

    Reply
  20. JosephPote

    “Take the first step, he says. Because that’s where the miracle begins.”

    Yes! The first step of faith…

    I tend to ask to see the whole path, but faith seldom works that way. Most often we must take one step before we can see the next.

    Thank you, Jennifer!

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      I do the same, Joseph! I want to know what’s around the bend, more often than not. That single first step is always the hardest.

      Reply
  21. Alisa Nicaud

    “You can’t walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.” My heart knows this, but my mind says, “If you get out of this boat you’ll drown!!” It’s such a battle between heart and mind, isn’t it? Often we know what we need to do, but doubts and fears prevent us from stepping out…and potentially missing out on that miracle. Thank you for the reminder to take the first step. I don’t have to know the next one, God will provide that when the time comes. =) Also, thank you for featuring me this week, I am truly humbled.

    Reply
    • dukeslee

      I hear you, Alisa. I love the reminder from Scripture that if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, instead of on the water, we’ll stay afloat.

      It’s my joy to feature you. I love the fact that I get to give a little shout-out to someone every week. It’s so fun to introduce writers to other writers. xo

      Reply
  22. Sue Donaldson

    so great! keep it up! (my expensive next step of faith is attending shespeaks…I mean, aren’t I way too old? too late now.) Another miracle child.

    Reply
  23. Ginger Harrington

    Such a simply, yet challenging and profound concept. Loved this encouragement today!

    Reply
  24. Meghan Weyerbacher

    Woosh, simple yet profound. Oh wait, that other lovely down below just said that too. Well, it’s true!!!!!!

    Reply
  25. Lyli Dunbar

    Beautiful, Jennifer. One step at a time…. miracles in the making. Love this!

    Reply
  26. Joelle Povolni

    Love this encouragement, as I have to keep reminding myself, to keep on stepping out of the boat. I step out, see God’s faithfulness and then get comfortable and just want things to come easy in this new season. Once again he calls me to step out and trust Him again. You would think we’d get use to it. 🙂

    Reply
  27. Katie Reid

    Praising the Miracle-Working God! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Elizabeth Stewart

    And what a beautiful miracle you are! God blesses me through you!

    Reply
  29. Shannon Geurin

    What an encouragement for me! Jesus only says “Come” – the miracles that take place when we do are amazing!

    Reply
  30. June

    Thankful for you, friend, and the miracle you are!

    Reply
  31. Annie Owens

    Thank you Jennifer for this encouraging word. If we would obey in the one thing, like “come”, He does the rest! Thank you for your obedience to Him! He is reaching so many through you!

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Blessed are Those Who Limp | Waxing Gibbous - […] Linking up this week with Abby McDonald at #RaRaLinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee at #TellHisStory, Lyli Dunbar at #ThoughtProvokingThursday, Holley Gerth at Coffee for…
  2. Commas, Periods and Joy | Quiet Confidence - […] Linking up with Jennifer Dukes Lee as she reminds us all of the miralce we are, the miracles within…
  3. the answer to every predicament - Becky Keife - […] in community with Jennifer Dukes Lee #TellHisStory and Holley Gerth […]
  4. A Playlist for the Hurting - True and Faithful - […] *This post contains affiliate links. Linked with Modest Mom, Art of Homemaking Mondays, #TellHisStory […]
  5. Jesus Showed Up | Journey Pink - […] Linking up with: Jennifer Dukes Lee […]
  6. Red - The Color of Hope! - […] up with Beth, Holly, Winter, Jenny, Jennifer, Holley, Kristin, Jaime, […]
  7. 14 Things I’d Say to My Younger Self About Being a Mom | Ginger's Corner - […] Linking at Coffee for Your Heart and #TellHisStory. […]
  8. Jesus Showed Up - Michelle Viscuse - […] Linking up with: Jennifer Dukes Lee […]

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pin It on Pinterest