I’m tired. My body hurts. I’m both excited and nervous to fly back to an American life in 23 days. My stomach hurts and I know it may be my third parasite this year.
I’m in a foreign country trying so hard to be present and be aware of what God is teaching me but also counting down the days until I’m holding a warm Chick-fil-a sandwich overflowing with Chick-fil-a sauce and hugging my family.
And then I read this on my newsfeed, and it hit home.
Preach, Vanessa!
This has been one of THE biggest lessons I’ve learned this year:
God is good EVEN IF…
EVEN IF you have to walk 7 miles for ministry each day.
EVEN IF you are served nothing but rice and beans for 11 months.
EVEN IF your Mexican teammates have to translate your Spanish to better Spanish.
EVEN IF you don’t know the source of the smell.
EVEN IF your roof leaks directly on your forehead where you sleep.
EVEN IF your friends back home are too busy to video chat.
EVEN IF you’ve been robbed… 3 times in a month.
EVEN IF strangers drive their motorcycles into your house at 7AM to park them in your “living room” for the day.
EVEN IF you forgot to BYOTP on travel days.
EVEN IF you have had to balance 44 different personalities 24/7 and can’t find quiet time in any nook or cranny in the house.
EVEN IF you’re trying to preach and the pastor who is supposed to be translating to his Thai congregation is too busy texting during your sermon.
EVEN IF you didn’t find a husband on the World Race like your mom had hoped.
But the Lord has taught me this lesson in much more trying ways. I’ve had to learn that God is the light in the darkness. He is good EVEN IF…
EVEN IF children who can’t afford extra pencils get kicked out of class if they don’t bring their pencil.
EVEN IF a Rwandan family can’t take care of their children because they need their father present to sign up for health care… and he left them 5 years ago.
EVEN IF the government in India is supporting a terrorist group targeted at killing Christians, coming in and demolishing peace even at children’s birthday parties.
EVEN IF Cambodian women are sold into sex slavery by their parents to help pay for their son’s enrollment at the Buddhist monastery.
EVEN IF there are more abandoned Nepalese street kids than abandoned dogs.
EVEN IF the boy you really connected with at the Bolivian rehabilitation center tries to take his own life 2 days into your month together.
EVEN IF you are held hostage for 24 hours by Peruvian rioters.
EVEN IF you leave your Vietnamese college students after a month and they still aren’t sure if they want to know Jesus.
EVEN IF it is culturally acceptable in Thailand to abandon your children when you get a new husband who isn’t their father.
EVEN IF Ethiopians who practice witchcraft try to stone you for encouraging Christians in the region.
EVEN IF you are experiencing hurt, loss, addiction, heartbreak, confusion, abuse, depression, or loneliness, God is GOOD.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” -Philippians 4:12
“Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish,
for his mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness!” -Lamentations 3:22-23
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
