"I've been sitting at the Thailand/Malaysia border for 3 hours waiting to cross. Only to find out it has now closed and after 17 hours of travel we don't know where we are sleeping this evening nor how we are getting to Malaysia tomorrow.
Much of this ride I have been listening to sermons about 'living radically for Jesus'.
That eternal life is free,
yet being a disciple is costly.
That to follow Jesus and to know what it is to live by the power of the Holy Spirit is to suffer.
Because Jesus' strength is made perfect in my weakness.
These sermons are telling me to,
'screw it, and follow Jesus.'
They are telling me to not walk in step with the world.
To not 'fit in'.
To live as a 'pilgrim Christian' where God pours buckets of grace and mercy."
Rewind to a few weeks ago,
me, lying face first in a freshly made bamboo shed, asking God,
"are You worth it?"
Is Jesus worth it?
The race has forced me on my face to ask God the big questions. Questions, we often never get to asking God in America. Or at least, I didn't.
It's a hard thing to live out the Gospel and to suffer.
To be broken over and over and over for the things that break God's heart.
It takes faith.
Because we have to hope in the unseen.
And that's hard.
It's really hard to hope in something or someone,
that we cannot even see.
I know that Jesus is worth it.
I know it, but in the midst of brokenness –
it is hard to feel that He is worth it.
Jesus is calling me to a radical life.
Heck, He's calling all of His disciples to a radical life.
And it's a life that doesn't look like the world.
It makes us stand out and look different.
Jesus doesn't make us fit in.
And that's how He wants it.
Good ol' reminder from Wilburforce. Found at an incredible "Justice" coffeeshop
I've talked about this faith that Jesus calls us to so often in America.
I've talked about it, but I haven't lived it until this year.
And now, I'm living it.
It is the hardest and best thing I've ever done.
And I wouldn't change it for the world.
My team is stepping it up this month.
We want more. And we want to know that Jesus is worth it.
We are stepping up our game in prayer and worship.
And, I think it's going to change everything.
Romans 8:22-23 says this :
"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it."
My reminder to hope in the unseen, that Jesus is the hope of the world
The reality is is that Jesus calls us to live radically dependent on Him.
Hoping in the unseen, like never before.
Yes, He is worth it.
It's not easy, but He's worth it.
Because He's the hope of the world.
Our rooftop view!
*Oh, and the end of the story is that we made to to Malaysia safely! We stayed at a hostel next to the border and got in to our location the next evening. I'm in LOVE with Malaysia already. I'm excited to spend the next 4 weeks getting to know the beautiful people of this country!
