If the support didn't come in...
I was thinking about what would it be like if it didn't come in. It's a crazy thought - and God can bring it in. But if for some reason it didn't, what does that mean? Does it mean God was unfaithful? That we didn't try hard enough? That we aren't meant to be missionaries... now? Ever?
God has a plan for our lives, and I know one person from project who got denied from going on staff. He said it was the best thing that ever happened to him - he ended up on staff 18 months later, after marrying his wife. Originally he felt unworthy and hurt because he didn't get accepted... after all, he just wanted to serve God, right? But God's plan was better than his own. Not only did he marry his wife but he took some sin in his life pretty seriously and by God's grace was able to conquer it.
The Bible says that God who did not spare his own son will also with Him freely give us all things. We must trust in this. God's ways are not our ways, and even if the root cause of us not raising our support on time is people's selfishness and unwillingness to give freely back to God what he has so graciously bestowed on them, somehow God is still at work through this and in this for our good. And this is not a secondary good that is unfortunate. This is God's divine plan taking place. God works all things in accordance with His will.
I have no idea if you all are going to raise your support on time. I think I will (Lord willing!). Even so, I thought many times about how horrible it would be if I didn't raise it. How it would be such a bad thing for my family to see. How it would mess up my plans. But really... who are we to talk back to God anyway?
God is in control, and reality is that His plan is worth trusting. None of us ever brought in our own support by our own hard work. God is the one who gives, and God is the one who takes away. But whether he gives or takes away, we can know that he is sovereign over our support raising and all the resulting suffering, afflictions, and sadness. In the midst of this we should still have joy in Christ. He loved us. He died for us. He saved us. He will glorify us. His grace called us from being enemies of God to adopted sons and daughters.
This is how I comforted myself before I took this on, and although these words may mean less now that it appears I will go (assuming the rest comes in), I wanted to share them. If the support doesn't come in, things will still be absolutely fine.
Good providence everyone! (I think good providence is assured ... gonna stop saying this one)
Bish
God has a plan for our lives, and I know one person from project who got denied from going on staff. He said it was the best thing that ever happened to him - he ended up on staff 18 months later, after marrying his wife. Originally he felt unworthy and hurt because he didn't get accepted... after all, he just wanted to serve God, right? But God's plan was better than his own. Not only did he marry his wife but he took some sin in his life pretty seriously and by God's grace was able to conquer it.
The Bible says that God who did not spare his own son will also with Him freely give us all things. We must trust in this. God's ways are not our ways, and even if the root cause of us not raising our support on time is people's selfishness and unwillingness to give freely back to God what he has so graciously bestowed on them, somehow God is still at work through this and in this for our good. And this is not a secondary good that is unfortunate. This is God's divine plan taking place. God works all things in accordance with His will.
I have no idea if you all are going to raise your support on time. I think I will (Lord willing!). Even so, I thought many times about how horrible it would be if I didn't raise it. How it would be such a bad thing for my family to see. How it would mess up my plans. But really... who are we to talk back to God anyway?
God is in control, and reality is that His plan is worth trusting. None of us ever brought in our own support by our own hard work. God is the one who gives, and God is the one who takes away. But whether he gives or takes away, we can know that he is sovereign over our support raising and all the resulting suffering, afflictions, and sadness. In the midst of this we should still have joy in Christ. He loved us. He died for us. He saved us. He will glorify us. His grace called us from being enemies of God to adopted sons and daughters.
This is how I comforted myself before I took this on, and although these words may mean less now that it appears I will go (assuming the rest comes in), I wanted to share them. If the support doesn't come in, things will still be absolutely fine.
Good providence everyone! (I think good providence is assured ... gonna stop saying this one)
Bish
posted by Brian at 9:13 PM
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