If there’s one thing I’ve learned from mission work, it’s been flexibility.
Situations and circumstances can change in a matter of minutes, so I’ve learned to be very flexible in my plans–and life in general.
I guess I have lots of expectations for my Race in September 2014. But at the same time, I don’t have many at all. Strange, right?
Let me explain a little bit.
I hope and pray that the Lord moves in great and powerful ways. I expect to see Him move and change lives–mine included. I expect to use the gifts He’s given me to minister to others–both my brothers and sisters around the world and what the Savior would call “the least of these.” I am anticipating many opportunities to share the gospel–to proclaim the name of the Lord.
I expect to be exhausted, hungry, sore, etc. I expect that my body will hurt. But if it hurts for the sake of the gospel, then that’s great.
I expect for my personal space to be invaded all the time. I am anticipating lots of hugs and laughs with little ones.
I expect the Lord to break me, to change me, to teach me how to live for Him fully and completely–with utter abandon.
I see Him restoring people to Himself, breaking chains, healing the lame, calling people from the darkness into the light.
But all those expectations are mere shadows of what could actually happen.
You see, I serve a great and awesome God. And He is able to accomplish all those things. But He is also able to do abundantly more.
The Lord is totally able to do far more than I could even imagine. I hope that when everything is said and done, I can look back and just say, “Wow. I would never have thought the Lord could do that in my life and through me!”
As William Carey says, “Expect great things. Attempt great things.”
So that’s my plan. I’m going to expect great things from the Lord. And then I’m also going to attempt great things as I follow after Him.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21
