I had a realization and I just wanted to share it with the hopes that it helps someone!
Our first week here on Ometepe Island, we were told by our host that we would be attending the local church on Sundays while we are here. The first Sunday that we went, a few of us were asked to lead worship in English. They asked that the second time we go, two people share their testimonies as well as a short devotion/sermon. When they first mentioned these things, I wanted to lead worship! I absolutely loved it, and it was incredible. My next thought was, “heck no I’m not sharing my testimony in front of a bunch of people [in Spanish].” The thought of that totally intimidated me and I was definitely not going to volunteer. I thought since I helped with worship I could let someone else jump at that opportunity. A few days go by after our first Sunday where we lead worship, and we were asked who was going to share their testimonies etc. and nobody volunteered. They gave us another day to ponder and pray about it, and still nobody volunteered. After a few moments of silence, one of the girls on my team volunteered. I thought, okay cool, there’s one person, now we just have to see who the Holy Spirit is going to lead next. Still nobody…And all of a sudden I raised my hand and said I would do it. Who knows why?? Not me! I’m definitely not one to jump at speaking in front of people, especially about my life, but I know my life is a testimony to the Lord’s goodness and how faithful He is. He brought me HERE to spread the gospel and He brought me HERE to use Spanish for that purpose, and if I passed up the opportunity to do literally what I came here for, I would feel like I missed such a great opportunity for the Lord. I’m so thankful He gave me that realization.
I later began to write my testimony out in Spanish. There were many words I needed to learn to share my testimony accurately, so our translator helped me with that, but as I was writing I began to wonder why I didn’t feel a specific “call” or “feeling” telling me to share my testimony, I just volunteered without thought. It made me think of this:
Do you ever decide to wash the dishes before your parents tell you to? You just do it because you know it’s the right thing to do, and you know how to do it. You know your parents would eventually ask you to do something, so you decide to do it on your own.
I have been blessed with the gift of knowing Spanish, and I need to use that for God’s glory! I know the language, I know my testimony, so I just needed to do it.
1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
The way that I compare this scenario is the Lord is not always going to give you a feeling about everything. Sometimes He is going to let you choose with your own free will (and discernment) if you are going to do something for His glory. At the same time, we can choose to do something, but the Lord’s plan will always prevail.
Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
You know it would be the right thing to do, and you know that God would eventually ask you at some point to do some sort of evangelizing, so you choose to do it before He asks you. Obviously, there needs to be discernment in every decision, but as long as it aligns with scripture, go with it. God will direct your path as soon as He sees you step out in faith! The Lord sent me here to evangelize, and that is exactly what I am going to do. He has prepared me for years with learning Spanish so that I could speak at this exact moment about Him. As scary as it may be (because I don’t like talking in front of people) the Lord calls us to find comfort in Him, not in our own flesh! If I rested in my own comfort, I would be back home, laying in my air conditioned, clean sheets with my favorite pair of fuzzy pajama pants on and an ice cold glass of water in my hand (clean ice doesn’t exist here). But, the Lord called me into being uncomfortable, sitting on a bunk bed in sweatpants (even though its 80 degrees but I don’t want bug bites), covered in mosquito bites, sweaty from playing soccer with a weak fan blowing on me, yet still loving this stage of life I’m in, because I am choosing to delight in the Lord’s comfort! And this is not complaining by ANY means, this is showing how I have expanded my comfort zone and found comfort in the Lord and not what I have been used to!
Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
I have really been learning to step out in faith while being here so far. I am learning to not sit back and wait for a bunch of signs to confirm something I’m thinking about, I am stepping out in faith and if the doors continue to open, I know God is pleased. However, if the doors close, I know maybe that’s not where I should be going, which is totally okay! I have also learned that “no” is a perfectly okay response from God, because there is something bigger and better in the future.
Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom!
Much love, Rachel <3
