God loves to teach me obedience, because it’s something I struggle with and have struggled with for awhile. But I have learned that saying yes to God will always lead to good things- maybe not easy or comfortable things but they all eventually turn to good.
The hardest thing God has ever asked me to do was to go on the World Race and to give up future plans and my relationship I was clinging to. I was in a very committed relatioinship with a man who treated me so well and made me feel so special, I loved him so very much, I still do. But God asked me what was more important, and I knew my answer must be to follow Him. No it hasn’t been easy at all, and the future is unknown, but God has more than proven to me that I can trust Him. God has used the World Race to change my life in so many ways already and I’m not even halfway through it. I am filled with so much joy because I know this is exactly where God wants me in this moment.
This month in Malawi God has been pushing me farther and farther. It’s been a constant battle to listen so closely to Him and to choose to say yes or no.
Our ministry this month has been to go out to rural villages and to spread God’s love and hope to the people there. The first night we got there I was asked if I could preach in front of everyone after a few minutes. I was so unprepared and had a little freak out in my mind. But God was telling me “yes Shannon I know you aren’t prepared, but trust me. I will lead you. This is your step of faith so be bold and step out knowing I am with you.” So I said yes. I started out for my bible and journal asking God for help on what these people most needed to hear. I had written a bit about God’s goodness in my journal from earlier in the day so I decided on that. Speaking in front of crowds is not my forte at all, it never has been but I was also confident that God would speak through me. And of course, He did not disappoint.
I spoke on the ways God pours out His goodness on us and how sometimes we focus only on the bad in our lives and not the ways He continuously blesses us. His goodness is a gift that we do not deserve and cannot repay but He dosn’t ask us to. Our reponse is simply to accept and thank Him. And thus I had everyone lift up prayers of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. I know that God smiled that night.
The next day most of us were reading and sitting around waiting for the crusade to begin. I saw some of the kids from the village standing around watching us. God said, “Shannon why don’t you go play wit them.” But I was tired and I didn’t know what I would do because they didn’t speak any English. But of course you can guess who won. I awkwardly walked towards some of the kids and they laughed and shyed away. I shook their hands and greeted them in Chichewa, their language, saying “Mulibwanji”. Then more started gathering. I used the only Chichewa I knew with simple phrases like “how are you”, “I’m fine, thank you” “what’s your name?” “my name is Shannon”. By then there were a bunch of kids standing around. I stood there awkwardly for a bit and then decided to try duck duck goose. They sort of got the jist of it but i’ll admit it was kind of a fail. I then turned to the simple game of tag. This did the job. Soon all the kids from the village were
playing, running around laughing and screaming. It was so much fun. The women and men were also watching and laughing and smiling. Whew they had me running! Some of the girls taught me a hand clapping game and then one of our ministry hosts jumped in and taught me a game they play where we all hold hands in a circle and there is a wolf and a sheep and you have to hold hands tightly trying to protect the sheep from the wolf. Ah it was just so good and the kids did not shy away from me much after that. Even though it was such a small thing i know it helped them to trust us.
And this has been a continuous thing throughout the Race and especially this month as God keeps asking me to walk in His Spirit of boldness and power, using what I have to serve. He tells me to act wihout any fear, shyness or doubt knowing who I’m being led by. And it is hard and I’m being pushed and have had to question a lot this month but I’m constantly learning. I see that when I say yes God moves.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a Spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline
