Dear Scared Missionary,
I know, me too.
“How is fundraising?” , they say.
“Are you so ready to go?” , they say.
Smile and wave, boys.
Let me be clear, I know you’re excited. But beyond that, when no one is around I know that you’re….for lack of better words “totally freaking out”.
Sometimes reality hits you and the enemy swoops in and says “you’re in over your head” , and you are.
But there’s good news! No matter how big AND panicky AND frustrating your storm is….Our God is BIGGER!
I realized today that up until this point I have been pulling a biblical “Peter”. You know, like when Jesus appears to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee and invites Peter to step out on the water with Him. The moment he takes his eyes of Jesus and sees the storm, the wind, and the waves…..He began to sink. He reaches out His hand for Jesus who lifts him up.
I was a Peter. I was walking on my metaphorical water like a pro until I looked down at my storm – which appeared to me as money, worth, lack of preparation, and even disappointment . What does it appear to you as?
I’m sure Peter was a nice guy ,I mean, I’ve heard great things. But I don’t want to be like Peter anymore…not in this sense. I never want to take my eyes off of Jesus. This is not the time to have wavering faith but the time to stand firm in the calling He has presented to us. I am called to be a missionary, not just for 11 months, but for the rest of my life. My God called me. It took me a while to come to a place of obedience, yes. However if “I’m in” I have to be fully “in”… unless I want to drown. He called you too. But that doesn’t mean that it is going to be easy going from here on out. In fact, most days it will seem impossible. But when we cry out to Jesus, he reaches out and pulls us well above our storms.
For all you Peters out there, I have only this to say:
Let your mission. Be bigger than your fear, let your faith be bigger than your fear, and let your God do His job because dear missionary, He is SO MUCH BIGGER than your fear.
Don’t look down,
Roni
