The place that I go to in my mind to be with Jesus is a field. It’s absolutely beautiful with tall golden and green grass flowing in the wind everywhere you look. The scenery goes on for as far as the eye can see and besides some trees, the next thing you see is the beautiful sunset on the horizon. That’s where Jesus and I spend a lot of our time. Sometimes it’s just Father and daughter hanging out, and blue butterflies fly and twirl around us. Other times I am praying for someone I love and bring them to Jesus’ feet and intercede for them (some of you don’t even know that I’ve taken you to my field). Sometimes a path emerges under us and we go walking and Jesus reveals things about my future and we skip in excitement together.
That field is where I live most of my life with Jesus.
And the day we drove from the airport in Ethiopia to our ministry site, I was crying for every which way I looked; there were beautiful fields as far as the eye can see. My first walk around the property brought more tears because it seemed like God had finally brought me to our field in real life. Have you ever had those moments where you encounter something and it immediately shows you how much your Heavenly Father loves you? Yeah that feeling came every morning I got to actually walk through these beautiful fields.
One afternoon I was struggling with the ministry and decided to take a walk in the field. I was confused as to what God was trying to teach me or say to me and my frustration with God and others put me over the edge. I walked through this field, talking through all my thoughts and feelings with Jesus. I struggled connecting with the children, feeling apathetic and unenthusiastic about the ministry, and I was frustrated that I felt my passion and love for children was not currently present. I probably looked like a nut talking out loud to no one out in a field by myself. I eventually get out all that I need to get out and take a seat.
I remember where I am. In a field. In OUR field.
I take a deep breath. “You took me here. You knew I would come here. You knew I needed to walk through this.” And I don’t need to here His audible voice to know that He was saying yes. I didn’t get an direct answer from God. I wish life was that easy. I got a reminder.
A few minutes later I hear something in the grass move behind me and suddenly I am tackled by three children. They laugh and giggle and decide to sit beside me and pick flowers, they play with my hair and ask why it is so short, and they ask me all the questions they know in English. Immediately my flesh sees it as a nuisance, that these three kids interrupted my time with Jesus, and then the Holy Spirit convicts me and I see that God sent them.
They were my reminder. All I needed was a gentle nudge to remind me it’s not about me and that my eyes were not fixed on Him. In a moment where I am complaining about how I feel and how I’m not connecting with children, He SHOWS me what He feels and brings me three children to connect with in the middle of our field. And then like a rushing wind, I am filled with energy and joy and start a game of tag that I an only equate to another gift from the Lord. They chase me and tackle me and suddenly I am so thankful to have other people in my field with me.
Later we walk to dinner and before leaving I look up at the sky and whisper “Thank You.” And the grass sways with the wind as if He is replying back.
My friends,
Our circumstances and frustrations cloud our minds and keep us from Jesus, keep us from seeing what the Lord has for us. What I have found is that we need to run to Him.
RUN.
To your field with Him, your hiding place, whatever you need to do to sit and realize that He’s right there in front of you.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers today.
All my love,
JJ
