“It was love at first sight! Everything was absolutely perfect.”
Sometimes we hear cliché comments such as this from new couples, their eyes dewy with love and romance. They are so infatuated with one another that they can hardly see anything else. A lot of times this makes us roll our eyes and laugh. But sometimes it also makes us stop and say “I want that, why can't I find someone who makes me feel that way?”
The other day during my quiet time here in beautiful Cambodia, I was thinking about love and missions, and how very similar they can be in our minds at times.
Take love for example first. We search and search for “the one.” We scour the corners of our world for that one right person, that man or woman that completes us. The one person who is just perfect in every way for us.
Only, after a while, that perfection seems to dim a little. We start to see the faults, we feel annoyance creep up at things that once seems endearing. And “the one” suddenly doesn't seem so qualified anymore. We are left dissatisfied, and go on searching, confident that one of these times, we will find the exact perfect one that will stay perfect forever, continuing on in romantic bliss into an eternal sunset.
Now take missions and ministry.
In our Christian circle, we get so caught up in our calling. In giving it a specific name and place, set into stone.
“What is your ministry?”
“Where are you called to?”
In my own mind, I realized that I put a lot more weight and expectations onto these questions than I thought. I expect that when I find that one perfect ministry, it will just immediately fit, like finding “the one”. When I enter that one country that I could minister in for the rest of my life, it will be a blissful experience. I will immediately fall in love with the culture, with the people. When I find that one perfect ministry, I will be transfixed by their vision. I will have energy for every day of ministry without fail, because the perfect ministry will give me the life I need to pour out.
Right?
Wrong.
While this may be the case for some (and I am sure that is a very few), it is not the rule. Like finding the person God has for you to marry, things are not always a walk in the park. Many times, it's not even love at first sight. Love is often built on the foundations of friendship, of investing time and life, and in the quiet whispers of love blown by the Lord here and there.
Sometimes he sends the breezes and whispers, and other times it might be like the mighty gust of a hurricane. You can't predict or expect how He will move. And I think that many times He works in the small things. In the breezes and whispers, gently revealing His heart to us, inviting us into His work and His plans.
But do we recognize it? Or are we too busy being caught up in waiting for the almighty lightning bolt to strike us with His divine plan? We might be waiting for a long time for that, and even then, that lightning comes from a storm, doesn't it? A violent upturning of the atmosphere?
This month, God whispered His love to my heart in Cambodia. He filled me with His love for this place. For the people. He opened my eyes to their joy, and the light inside of them. He revealed His deep passion for the Cambodian people to my heart, and how they are a key to the nations.
It didn't come at the first sight of Cambodia. In fact at first, I heaved a heavy sigh because Cambodia reminded me so much of Africa, and after spending the last few months in westernized Asia, I wasn't sure how it would go. When we first got to our location and learned that we would only have electricity for three hours a day, I found myself hesitate. And then there was the introduction of outdoor showers and squatty potties again.
But within the first day, it didn't matter. God began to transform my heart. I saw this place through His eyes, and fell in love with it. He whispers to me every day about this place, and the plans He has here. How they are not forgotten. They are loved. They will be filled with Him.
I don't know if God has plans for me to come back here or not yet, but this month has made me stop and examine how I approach my call. Challenged me to open my ears and heart to hear His whispers. I don't want to miss out what He has for me because I was too busy looking for Him to show up in an instantaneous, loud way.
We must follow Him day by day, season by season. Being flexible, willing to bend with Him, move with Him as He molds us and uses us for His purpose as He sees fit. I must abandon my expectations and remember that God moves in mysterious ways. That maybe He has grand purposes for us in difficult places, and that things aren't going to be perfect.
Follow where He leads.
Even if it means discomfort.
Even if it is to a place you did not expect.
Even if it a place that is difficult to love.
Even if it is out of the ordinary.
Even if you are a pioneer.
Even if it did come like a bolt of lightning.
Even if it did come like a whisper on the wind.
Follow Him no matter the cost.
He is always worth it.
