Since my acceptance to the World Race I have gotten two kinds of responses.
- Supportive
- Congratulations!
- I’m happy for you.
- I’m proud of you.
- That’s so cool!
- We are here for you.
- Cant wait to see what God does, etc.
- Not so supportive but trying to
- You could buy a car or put a down payment for a house with that money.
- That’s too much money.
- You could spend your time doing something better.
- At least you’re traveling.
- I’m not going to support that.
Sadly the “not so supportive but trying to” has come from most of my family. I feared to tell them that I was applying to the program so I didn’t. I told myself if I get in then I can tell them if not then they have no reason to know. They didn’t understand when I went to Bible College and they still don’t understand my desire to do ministry. This is hard for me. Family is one of the core pieces of my life. I am who I am because of my family and their stories and to not have their support or understanding pains me deeply.
I recognize most of their reserve and or worry. How am I supposed to survive doing ministry? In most cases it’s not a paid profession and if it is it is severely under paid and over worked. But I’m not in it for the money. I know and trust that God will take care of me and provide in one way or another. My drive is to serve others and to help spread the gospel. That is when I am happy and at peace.
I am eternally grateful for those who have been supportive and encouraging. You guys help me continue on the path that God has set before me. Your support has not gone unnoticed and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
So as much as I would like my family’s support and understand I don’t need it. As much as I would like to hear them say “We are proud of you” I don’t need it. All I need is God’s approval. I know he has called me and what he has called me for. My faith and trust is in him and that is all I need.
Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.
Luke 14:25-27
