“Then he took his staff in
his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of
his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17: 40
I’ve been carrying five
stones around in my pocket. Small,
seemingly insignificant weapons, but when wielded in faith, this handful of
rocks can bring stunning defeat to even the most insurmountable giants. To
launch just one could mean a perilous blow to the enemy. To keep saving them in my pocket only means
that my pants hang a little lower. I
question myself- what have I been waiting for?
One week ago we arrived in our
new home for the next month- Musho,
Peru. Despite the spectacular scenery that
surrounds me, I couldn’t help but feel discouraged upon our arrival. My heart was still a bit torn. Having a piece of me still planted at the
orphanage in Nicaragua,
I wasn’t sure if I was ready to engage with these people in the same way.
Seeing their needs, hearing
their cries, watching their lives…Am I ready for more?
The tenderness of a broken
heart is so vulnerable. The
vulnerability of brokenness is so freeing.
Selfishly, I thought that allowing
the Lord to break me again for His children here in Peru seemed to be too much. Hadn’t I given enough? Will I spend the next month breaking and
crying for people who can’t understand my compassion?
I want so much more than
brokenness for the lost. Crying prayers
are one expression of love, but how tangibly does that sort of love change
lives? What did Jesus’ life look like
when his love for the lost was manifested in broken compassion? It looked miraculous. It looked like freedom being proclaimed to
the captives, sight being restored to the blind, broken hearts being healed,
lame legs walking, bondages falling as light penetrates darkness. I want it….I’m ready to swing my sling and
make my mark on the forehead of my enemy.
