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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Seemingly Insurmountable Task
My husband and I have just had three wonderful opportunities to be with various missionaries from all over Europe and Russia. It is exciting to see new, young families with a burden and zeal to reach the people God has called them too. Although the countries vary in language, culture, customs and governments, some things seem to be the same: church work is slow and difficulties are great.
When a missionary begins work in a new language surrounded by a new culture and circumstances, it seems three problems often arise.
- It does not take long to begin to feel overwhelmed with all the new things he is required to adjust to. If children are involved, the pressure is increased depending on the age of the children. Babies and toddlers can adjust quite easily and they grow up speaking the new language their parents are struggling with, without even an accent.
Older children bring another group of problems with them. Perhaps they have left friends, schools, youth groups etc. and are reluctant or even resentful in their new surroundings. They are now facing new types of schools and the task of making new friends in a new and unfamiliar world.
Then there is most often a new language to deal with. Have you had to go shopping for the needs of your family and can not even read the labels on the canned goods, or ask directions, or perhaps even be comfortable dealing with a new currency? More than one of us has ended a days shopping in tears and frustration.
Customs and government laws are a source of aggravation all their own. Paper work and bureaucracy can appear as insurmountable mountains!
- All these situations and circumstances can cause us to be confronted with our own weaknesses and inabilities. We become keenly aware of our inability to cope with this new world, let alone reach it for Christ. It seems at ever turn there is some demand that pushed us out of our comfort zone. We may even wonder why in world did God send us here!
- The Bible tells us that the devil is as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8 When a lion stalks a herd of deer, he watches and waits for a while. He waits for one or two to begin to wonder off from the rest and then he begins to stalk them. If they are young, wounded, weak, or alone, he moves in for the kill.
Feeling alone in the ministry or the work of the Lord can lead to disaster! It leads to us letting down our guard, to indulge in self-pity and to listening to the lies of the enemy. Please notice I said "feeing" alone, because no believer is ever really alone. Jesus promised to NEVER leave His own. Almighty God, the Creator of the universe is with you!
All three of these problem areas are no mistake. They are allowed by our Lord on purpose, to help us realize our total dependence on Him to accomplish any and ever thing. They are not there to crush or to destroy us. They are not going on in our lives without the controlling hand of our Shepherd.
Therefore, it is vitally important that each of us stay very close to the Shepherd and not stray in our fellowship with Him. We are at war and we do have a powerful and vicious enemy, but we dare not forget, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4
Familiar verses like Romans 8:28 must be believed and claimed as truth in each individual life. Scriptural truth is not there just for us to teach others, but for us to apply to our own everyday needs and situations. Our Lord is conforming you and I to His image. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 That means we will need to change and He used circumstances, people and trials to accomplish this purpose.
May I encourage you to raise your vision up to the Lord and off of yourself and your circumstances. Let us be as believing and courageous as Peter, and get out of our boat in obedience to our Lord. May we not turn as Peter did and become occupied with the waves!
This could be our last day to live for our Lord and Savior. May we live in humble obedience depending upon His faithfulness and power to accomplish the impossible!!
If any of you are willing to share a testimony of how God has helped you to overcome a difficulty in your life, you could be a help and encouragement to someone else. I hope you will take a few minutes to write in our guest book, and may God bless you. Sandy
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- Sandy Hastings |
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