One of the characteristics that made a big impact on me a couple months ago is the power of Christ’s peace. This was shown to me through an amazing missionary couple that we stayed with in Botswana, Clark and Hazel.
Clark and Hazel were an Irish missionary couple. They had been in Botswana for 37 years and we had the privilege to stay with them, learn from them, and be blessed by them. They blessed us with countless meals, outreach opportunities, and an amazing home. I’ve heard it said many times from the pulpit, “your life should look so different from the world that people are drawn to you and ask what is different about you.”
When I entered their home and through conversations we had with them, I could not help but notice the extreme peace, warmth, and joy I felt inside their home and ministry. They had multiple outreaches through out the week, but not once did I ever feel an ounce of stress or anxiety or rush. Their peace was unshakable and the warmth inside their home overflowed. It was more than noticeable, it was something I could feel.
One of the beautiful things I noticed was that they were not worried about the fruit. They were not worried about the number of people they reached. This in no way implies that they were lazy or unfruitful. In fact, quite the opposite. They reached hundreds, their ministry was amazingly fruitful, and they hosted countless people like us in their home. I can only imagine the impact that they have had on hundreds of people that come through their home, as they had a lasting impact on me. Their primary focus was just being faithful to the call God gave them and day in and day out, seeking and growing closer to Him. Not striving. Just taking life as it comes.
I was very encouraged to say the least and I feel blessed to have experienced life in their home. The peace that they not only had, but also shared with others, was something I hadn’t experienced to that extent. It was almost as if their years of life and wisdom were being gifted to me through experiencing life in their home. Their peace was blessed upon me. I realized that this is how I want to live my life. I hope to take their mindset and peace as a 26 year old, and live the rest of my life in this state of mind and peace. In every circumstance, not easily shaken. Blessed with a spirit of peace. Not moved to stress easily, setting aside striving, not worried about results, not letting the to do’s of life gain control over my mind. Just focusing on being faithful to His call. Living by the peace of Christ.
