Earlier this week, my good friend Katie stopped by to help me sort through the stuff in my closet (she has become proficient in this over the last year), and before she left to go home, she prayed for me. In and of itself, her prayer was so encouraging and caring, but one specific part of her prayer really hit home. She thanked God that, during these times of struggle when we face the unknown, we learn so much about God’s character.
I’ve been having a hard time with raising financial support. (Maybe no one has an easy time with it.) I find myself feeling envious of other missionaries who raise support and then go to the field; we are raising support and going to the field with a deadline, which probably isn’t that much more stressful than regular support-raising, but to me right now, I am feeling the pressure of wanting to arrive at BFA before the beginning of the next school year. And I don’t know about you, but when I am in difficult, stressful circumstances, there are times when I realize that I have begun to subconsciously doubt the character of God. It’s not that I don’t think he is faithful or loving or powerful; it’s that I assume that a faithful, loving, and powerful God would do things a certain way (read: MY way) that would preclude me from experiencing the pain and frustration and confusion of waiting for his provision. After all, this is what he asked us to do. After all, this is for his glory.
I don’t mean to slip into this kind of thinking. But I sometimes do. And after a while, a passage from the Bible or a well-timed word from a friend will stop me in my thoughts and remind me of the truth. Just because God calls us to something does not mean it will be easy; in fact, the opposite is probably true. He doesn’t flatten the mountain before us; he gives us the strength to climb it. My family experienced many truly difficult and painful things when we lived overseas–sickness, spiritual attack, loneliness, loss. He delivered us through them, every time. That is faithfulness. And those times enable us to help those who walk through the valley behind us. As I was reminded by my dear friend Emily today: God isn’t safe, but he is good.
I hope this encourages you today in whatever trial you may be facing. I love you, friends!