is so that we would pray for strength.
And maybe the reason for the strength,
is so that we would not lose hope.
And maybe the reason for our hope,
is so that we would face the world.
And the reason for the world is to make us long for home."
"Reason for the World" by Matthew West
Luke 15:18,19 says this,
"I will get up and go the my father and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.'"
Catch this, the younger son says, "I will get up and go to my father."
It might not sound significant to you, but it does to me. The son tried to make it on his own. He tried to live without the help of the Father. But he lost everything. He came to the end of himself. He came to the end of himself and said, "I will give up and go to my father."
And that's what he did. He went to his father.
And the father granted him grace, mercy, forgiveness and love.
The Father didn't care where he'd been or what he'd done.
He cared that his son was back.
The Father felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him (Luke 15:20).
I'm in awe of God's compassion for me and for ALL of His children.
This thing called The World Race is not easy. To the outside world, it may seem like this crazy, fun adventure. And it is. But it is also the hardest thing I've ever done. And I've come to the end of myself. I've given up, because I've tried to do it on my own. In different ways from the younger son, I've experienced the utter brokenness of this world, and I've tried to deal with it on my own.
But, it's in the brokenness that I've seen Jesus more clearly. It's when I come to the end of myself that His miracles are manifested. And I've seen Him move in my life more in the past week, than I have on the entire race.
And it's because I'm broken and in need of only Jesus.
I love the song that I quoted up above.
Maybe the reason for the pain – the reason for witnessing a murder and the reason for coming along side a teammate to love a malnourished babe only to see her die is so that I would pray for strength.
And maybe the reason for the strength, is so that it would be God working through me so that I would see the hope that is in HIM, and not the world.
And maybe the reason for the hope, is so that I would be able to face a broken world,
with the love of Jesus.
To love more malnourished babies whether they will live or die.
To hold the hands of those rescued from the sex trade.
And ultimately, to make us all long for home.
This world isn't our home. But God has called me here for such a time as this.
It's to bring Kingdom to a broken world.
Yes, I'm broken, but it is in that brokenness that Jesus can finally work through me.
The reason for the pain is so that we would run to Jesus.
Just like that of the prodigal son, I'm running to Jesus,
and He is ever faithful to fill me with His love and mercy.
*For a more in depth story of sweet Althea's passing, please read my teammate, Christin's blog HERE. It is an incredible story of God's mercy and grace and love in the midst of such pain and brokenness.
