Sometimes we must be tested by fire to become what God wants us to be, Alabama first lady Patsy Riley recently told more than 200 women gathered at the annual celebration hosted by the Woman’s Missionary Union of First Baptist Church, Talladega.
Following the celebration’s theme, “God’s Plan, My Part,” Riley shared her testimony about the pain and growth that she has gone through as an adult Christian.
Several years ago, Riley began feeling spiritually drained and thinking that there was more to life than what she was doing, she told the audience.
“I felt like I just wasn’t connecting with anybody,” she said. “I knew there was something else out there for me to do, but I wasn’t quite sure what the ‘it’ was — I just felt like I needed to put out an all-points bulletin on God.”
At that point, Riley knew that Satan was attacking her and that something big was about to happen in her life.
Later, she realized that her premonition was correct when her husband, Gov. Bob Riley, underwent surgery, her father-in-law died of a heart attack and her daughter was diagnosed with cancer.
While visiting her mother she found a book called “In the Hands of the Potter” by Dale Evans Rogers.
Riley said it was that book that helped her realize that God wanted to shape and mold her into what He wanted her to be.
Even though she expected the change to be painful, she knew that she needed to let God do what He was getting ready to do.
“Going through that kind of fire is nothing that I had ever dreamed I would have to do because I love the Lord and He loves me,” Riley said.
“I had no idea that in order for God sometimes to be able to give you the opportunity to reach out and help someone else, you have to suffer as well,” she added. “I think sometimes God is just asking us to have faith, to trust Him, to pray.”
Riley continued, saying, “He did not promise us that every prayer that we would ever utter is going to be answered like we want it. It’s going to be answered like He wants it.”
Through her trials, Riley feels that God has prepared her for her current position.
“The Bible tells us in Psalms that we went through the fire and water but God brought us out into an abundant place,” she explained. “Nobody campaigns without fire. The Riley campaign, we did in water. It rained everywhere we went. But God brought us out into an abundant place and we will continue everywhere we go to give Him the glory.”
Strong in her faith, Riley considers herself a missionary on the missions field. On a daily basis, she and Gov. Riley share Bible verses with their staff members.
Living the Christian life
“We are there to represent Jesus Christ. We are there to represent our God, our Father,” she said. “So, it’s just like going on the missions field for me. … I am there to glorify Jesus Christ as your first lady of Alabama.”
In addition to her testimony, Riley thanked members of the audience for their prayers and support during the gubernatorial campaign.
“We felt your prayers,” she said. “We felt power in our feet.”
Expecting tough times in the future, she asked the audience to continue to pray.
“We need your prayers for many things, for strength, patience and unconditional love,” she said. “So continue to pray that we do our jobs and do our jobs well. Every morning we pray and every night we pray that every decision we make would first glorify God and second make the people of Alabama proud to say we are their governor and first lady.”
Throughout her talk, the First Lady encouraged her audience to allow God to mold them as a potter does clay.
“All of us are different and God takes all of us and uses us to glorify Him,” she noted. “You cannot be what God wants you to be as long as you hold on to what you want and you are doing it your way and you are not releasing all the gunk in your life.
“Whatever it is that God is calling you to do, please be pliable. Get the rocks and lumps out of your life, let your clay be put in the Potter’s hand.”
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