Just a wee lassie from Leith...by Laura Anne Mackay *Blog Party!*

Most of the time, I feel like a pea rattling around in a pot with a thousand other peas. A lady in leadership I may be (well, lady might be a bit of a stretch since I’m not often particularly ladylike), but the whole title of ‘leader’ in the grand scheme of God’s church just seems a little too grand for me.

Why?

Because as far as I can tell I’m just a wee lassie from Leith*.

And yet even though I’m just one person in a world full of 6 billion other people (all of whom are very significant to God), the night I said “Ok God, I finally believe you really do exist, I’m sorry, and I want to give all my life to you. Please would you take all the crappy** stuff that’s happened in my life, and use it for something good”; I received the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit “anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2).

I was a first year at university (= freshman in college) aged only 17 at that time. And I had no idea of the weight of what I was praying, no real comprehension of the power or sovereignty of the God I was asking to be in control of my life. And over the years to come I began to discover how great He really is. Some of you may have read the story of why my personal blog is called ‘Learning from Sophie’. Well God answered that first prayer of mine, first by forgiving me, then by starting to refine and restore me, then by allowing my faith to be tested. As my time at university came to an end it seemed the moment had arrived where I would begin my training in pregnancy counseling.

I was 24 when I stepped into my leadership role co-running a pregnancy resource centre in the city where I’d grown up. On most days I feel like I’ve been thrown in the deep end as I learn how to be a good leader. I’m often upset that I’m not a perfect leader. I feel I don’t do a good enough job. I believe that I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. I look around at other Christian leaders and think ‘wow, they have it sorted. They know exactly what they are doing. No one is going to take me seriously’.

And then I remember that Mordecai had to convince Esther that God had put her there for such a time as this, that David ran away and also murdered someone, that Moses ran away and asked God to send someone else, that Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.

I feel in better company when I think of these biblical iconic leaders in all of their imperfect humanity. All God asks of me is to be obedient even when it seems a little bit crazy. He reminds me that the rest of the work is His. His grace is more than sufficient: when we rely on Him, He is strong…even when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God is an almighty, powerful and gracious God. Even when people don’t listen to or obey Him, He still finds ways to get His point across. He can use big fish to swallow people whole, part seas, turn water to blood, help virgins become pregnant while still remaining a virgin, make donkeys talk, walk on water…and sometimes (when they aren’t rebelling against Him), He can even use wee lassies from Leith. :)

*Leith is a small port that has been swallowed up by the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, a country part of the United Kingdom. And yes, in a previous life I wanted to be a Geography teacher!

** I apologize to anyone offended by my use of the word ‘crappy’. But in all honesty this is a substitute for a much stronger word I actually used at the time.

laura anne mackay

Laura Anne Mackay is a woman with a passion for God and a passion for people. Her vision: to minister to broken people, to encourage and connect people, to show people God's love in action. She's a writer, singer, youth worker, support worker - and loves to tell you all about sex ed!

Laura Anne lives in Edinburgh, Scotland and is a member of Morningside Baptist Church. Amongst many other activities, her main role is to co-run a pregnancy resource centre, as well as helping support a national network of pregnancy centres in the UK.  

She has never eaten haggis or a deep fried mars bar, and does not know how to play the bagpipes.