Life on the World Race does not conform to a schedule; it is not repetitive and never predictable. Given my love of organization, I thought I was doing really good with having no prior expectations, with being flexible and open to God’s plan and timing. But this week, He’s been teaching me that this is not something to be prideful about, because I always have more to learn and more to surrender.
Surrender.
That has been the word floating through my head recently. On Monday, my teammate Whitney loaned me her favorite book, Hinds’ Feet on High Places. Over and over, the main character questions God’s plan, and each time, He shepherds her back to acceptance – to surrendering her will to His, trusting that His plan is greater than we can even imagine.
And I have seen that in my own life as well.
We spent Wednesday and Thursday morning visiting patients and their families at the Mansa General Hospital. The first day, we were herded back and forth in the Children’s ward, having a tour, talking with parents, and greeting hospital staff. I’ve been feeling frustrated by the language barrier and the lack of control we have over our ministry time, and it just kept building throughout our visit. Thankfully, I’m not here alone; at our team lunch, we talked about the need to spiritually recharge, which was exactly what I needed.
The next day, I was hoping to be part of the group going to the Women’s ward, but as we walked up to the hospital, I heard a gentle nudge. What if I ask you to go to the Men’s ward? ‘I’ll go,’ I thought sullenly. Good, came the response, that’s where I want you to be. I went with a sigh, but it ended up being a great morning, I hope as encouraging for the patients as it was for me.
I’m having to remind myself that I’m not on this trip for myself. I’m on this trip for God and for the people He wants me to encounter.
And that is why this hymn is always on my mind.
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments, and my days
Let them flow in endless praise
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee
This is what I want for my life, not so that I can take pride in my obedience, but so that God’s purpose will be fulfilled. I love that someone else already perfectly expressed this in a song!
