God Redeems

Malaria.  That’s how I’d describe Togo, month 7, in one word.  Not everyone, just me.  Now, in the final days dots are starting to connect and revelation is coming. 

Let me describe malaria in a nutshell.  I was the sickest I’ve ever been with a headache sensitive even to touch, unrelenting nausea, and a physical weakness that kept me in bed for about a week.  Thankfully, malaria meds are wonderful (and they’re the only drug African doctors know how to properly prescribe, we’ve found…)  The pain and nausea left in a day and left me in a loopy stupor for a few days.  Did I mention the doctor tried to rip me off in my delirium?

What did that mean for my ministry in Togo?  Unconventional and unexpected.  Let me share the revelation I’ve had over the month and show how God has connected the dots for me. 
*Redeeming – God spoke to me about how he’s sovereign enough to redeem anything for his kingdom.  In Joshua Israel attacks Ai and is defeated because of Judah’s sin.  After all was reconciled, the Lord used this defeat as part of the strategy to defeat Ai.  As I read thru the account of the Israelites God continually showed himself as redeeming in all things.  (Of course, I thought this was for someone else when I first read it.  Oh April…)
*I felt such a strong desire and urgency to minister to my team and squad thru words of life, prophecy, and encouragement.  I’ve been taking time each day to do this.
*Bill told me he felt strongly that God wants to work something thru my having malaria.  He explained that it wasn’t God’s desire for me to have malaria, but he allowed it to work thru it and to work in me.
*Continually, God has been speaking to me that this month is about getting me ready to go home.  He’s teaching me how to make ministry a lifestyle and how to (w/o thinking) minister to those around me and to be a blessing daily. 

Ok, let’s play connect the dots. 

1.  God allowed malaria to keep me from busying myself this month.  It kept me from filling my days with deeds and with my definitions of ministry.  He placed a strong call on me to minister to my squad and team.  Because I couldn’t do anything I found myself in prayer and listening to what the Lord has to say about each person I’m with.  I’ve found more purpose and satisfaction in this as I have every other ministry I’ve done thus far.

2.  I have a stronger desire to pour into those around me.  I’m seeing the power of my prayers and the perfect timing and power of God’s words for others.  Also, I’ve spent a few days painting with the workers at our hotel.  It’s evident that our time painting with them is meaningful to them. 

3.  There’s redemption in malaria.  God is accomplishing his desires for me and for others thru my sickie days.  I’m aware of what it’s like to be a blessing to others.  (It’s pretty great, actually.) 

Ok, I won’t bore you.  That’s the general idea.  Malaria still sucks, don’t let me fool you.  I’m sure there’s much better ways to learn these things.  You probably don’t need malaria to do it, but I find such comfort in a big God who can make something beautiful out of a crappy crappy parasite. 

So let me encourage you that our God is sovereign and redeeming.  This means God is a big boy and can make wonderful things out of our spills, broken vases, and coloring on the walls.  (For the record I HAVE been wearing bug spray and taking my “malaria preventatives.”  Don’t be fooled, doxycycline doesn’t work in West Africa.  At all.)  But what I say about God I say in awe and reverence.  My words can’t accurately describe or define what a great God he is.  Nor can they even begin to describe his love and compassion for us. 

So I write you from Togo to encourage you to look for God’s hand at work in your life, in every aspect of your life.  He’s at work, that’s for sure.  Even when we reject him, don’t understand him, or just plain don’t see him, he’s at work.  Even when we choose or pick up things we know he doesn’t desire – like malaria – he works thru it for our good and for his Name’s sake.  Don’t put him in a box.  Let him define himself, you, and your ministry.