I’m reading a book right now called Good News about Injustice, which is getting my mind thinking more about the injustice I will see in the world of trafficking. It’s really a great book and getting me fired up for this trip. But I just read a part that has left my mind racing with thoughts of this trip and how incredible my God is with excitement pumping through my veins. I’m going to see injustice that I’ve never seen before and pain that I’ve never felt, which will be heart wrenching, but He is allowing me to join him in working miracles in these dark places of the world.
“A preacher once asked me (and the rest of his congregation) to consider a scene that has stayed with me ever since. He asked us to recall the story about the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples brought complaints about the hungry multitude to Jesus, and he responded, compassionately by blessing the bits of food from a boy’s lunch-five loaves of bread and two fishes. “Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They ate and all were satisfied” (Matthew 14:19-20). The speaker then asked us to imagine a scenario in which the disciples just kept thanking Jesus for all the bread and fish-without passing them along to the people. He asked us to imagine the disciples starting to be overwhelmed by the piles of multiplying loaves and fish surrounding them, yelling out to Jesus, “Thank you, thank you, thank, thank you, thank you!”-all the while never passing along the food to people. And then beneath the mounting piles of food, the disciples even could be heard complaining to Jesus that he wasn’t doing anything about the hungry multitude.
So too with the ministry of God’s rescue for the oppressed in the world. How does God rescue the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked? Overwhelmingly he does it through those who choose to follow him in faith and obedience. He doesn’t need our “help,” but he chooses to use us.
Looking at the millions of slaves in India or the thousands of child prostitutes in Asia..we can say to God, “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for all the power, protection, freedom and justice you have granted us in sparing us from such fates. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Or we can ask, What have you given me, Father, that I might help those who don’t have power, who don’t have protection, who don’t have freedom, who don’t have justice?”
This was so perfectly stated. And it only affirms what I’m about to do as God’s plan and desire. It justifies my excitement.
Jesus uses the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to feed all the people. He easily could’ve done it himself without the help of the disciples. He didn’t need them just as he doesn’t need my help with going to Asia for a few months to fight against human trafficking. But he wants to use his children. God..Creator of all things…Creator of this UNIVERSE…the perfect and holy God who is the beginning and end wants to use me. Someone who is nothing without Him and is so weak.
He wants to use ME!?!? I can be a part of his plan and all his miracles. I can do that. It’s hard to grasp sometimes and always leaves me wondering why, but of course I want that! And He doesn’t ask us to understand it but instead just accept. He simply says “come, follow me.” There’s nothing better than being a part of what the Lord’s doing in this broken world.
And that’s what I’m doing in just over a week. The Lord said “come, follow me,” and I said ok. I will be in Cambodia a week from Saturday seeing evil manifesting itself in brothels.
Do I truly know what I’m getting myself into? Mmm no. How can someone know the extremity of the darkness that exists without ever seeing it before.
Am I a little nervous at this point? Absolutely.
But miracles are going to happen everywhere I go. Not by my own power. Not by my own words or those of my teammates. It won’t be us doing any miraculous healings or setting captives free. But God will be doing that stuff through us..through me!
I, Jennifer Gossard, will be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ as I head to Asia in a week. I will be working miracles with my God. And I have to say it’s the most exciting and satisfying thing despite what I’m leaving behind. He has given me his love, freedom, and hope in abundance, and now I get to give that to women and children in Asia. I refuse to sit around and just say “thank you, thank you, thank you” and watch people continue to suffer in the darkness. This is my walk in obedience of letting his love, freedom, and hope overflow into women and children in need of it.
Working miracles with God requires letting go of my plans and desires, BUT it’s worth it. He’s worth it.
I’m letting go of my life to let the miracles happen.
