God Can Work Through My Awkwardness

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, March 1, 2026:
Second Sunday of Lent

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2 Timothy
​1.8b-10

Brothers and sisters: Join with me in suffering for the Gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.

This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

There is a special kind of awkward that only shows up at my work. It’s not the “forgot my lunch” awkward. It’s not the “unmuted-myself-on-Zoom” awkward. It’s the moment when someone shares something heavy, really heavy, and you feel the words “I’ll pray for you” rise in your heart… and then your mouth says, “I’m thinking of you.”

Not because I don’t believe in prayer. Not because I don’t love Jesus. But because my work feels like a place where faith must whisper instead of speak.

I recently experienced this while sitting in a Zoom meeting with my coworkers. I work in a corporate office setting, where everything always feels very formal. My coworker shared that her child has been very sick. Really sick. I see everyone on camera start to nod seriously. Someone says, “That sounds hard.” Another says, “Sending good thoughts.” I feel my heart race. I know what I want to say. I know what I should say. But my brain does that thing where it panics and starts listing consequences no one asked for. Is this appropriate? Will this be weird? What if I make her uncomfortable? So, I smile kindly and say, “I’m thinking of you.”

In 2 Timothy, Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the Gospel. Not because it’s loud or flashy, but because it is powerful. He reminds him that God’s grace existed before we dared to use it. Before we found the right words. Before we figured out how to be brave.

Reflecting now, here’s the quiet truth: God isn’t waiting for us to be smooth. He isn’t asking for perfect words or flawless timing. He works through fishermen, stutterers, exhausted mothers, and yes, awkward women in office chairs. Faith doesn’t have to be loud to be real. It just has to be honest. 

God can work through your awkwardness.
He always has.

God, meet me in my hesitation and turn it into courage.
Help me trust that You can work through me, even when I feel unsure.
Amen.




Shelly Fillmore

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