Unlikely
not likely to happen, be done, or be true; improbable
Unlikely – this word has been ringing in my ear since my team and I were in a neighborhood in Viña Del Mar, Chile where it was unlikely for tourists to be. Our Uber drivers were surprised when they dropped us off that we were not staying closer to the city. Now my team and I are in a small city called Melipilla, Chile, where it is even more unlikely for tourists to be seen. We walk through the neighborhoods and the streets of this place, while many look at us confused about why we are here. Many expect that people like us would be closer to the tourist attractions, but it has sparked so many conversations about what we are doing here. We are in an unlikely place for tourists, but when people ask we get to tell them we are missionaries and just want to get to know the locals. It has been so fun so far and we have made some amazing friends.
I’ve been reading so many stories in the book of Acts where God calls His people to go and do what people saw as unlikely, or where God shows up in an unlikely way. One of them was in Acts 10 where Peter was speaking to a Cornelius, Gentile who at the time it was socially unacceptable to interact with as a Jew:
Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.” – Acts 10:28-29
Then Peter continues to talk to Cornelius and shared with him about Jesus, and as he did that – the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Gentiles and Peter was amazed.
Sometimes the things He calls us to do are out of our comfort zones, and sometimes who He calls us to may go against the grain of ‘social norms.’ What would it look like for me to love the unlikeliest of people? God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, what if our neighbor was the the person on the street we’d rather not go out of our way to talk to? What if our neighbor was the rich or the poor? What if God was calling us to go and love those we normally would not connect with, or those that are a bit more uncomfortable for us to love?
This also reminds me of Acts 9 – when God calls Ananias to go find Saul (a man who was out to kill Christians) and pray for him. Ananias questioned God because it was a bold move to go and pray for someone who wanted to kill people like him. But when he did, Saul who was then Paul was healed from blindness and was filled with the Holy Spirit and spent the rest of his life sharing the love of God with people. So many of us would have looked at Saul and thought that it was pretty unlikely that God would ever transform him and then begin to share the love of God with people.
When we love the unlikeliest of people, the unlikeliest of things can happen.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” – Matthew 19:26
It is definitely against the norm for the locals for us to be here, but who knows what else God will have for us in this little city. Your prayers for us while we are here are definitely appreciated!
ALSO – I’m so so blown away that God has provided so much for this trip already. I’m almost to my goal with $3,770 left to raise by May! If you feel lead to sow into my journey you can click the “Donate” button at the top. Gracias!
