“I could never do what you do!“
”I wish I could do what you do!”
These are two frequent statements I have received within the past two years.
Many people look at the life of an overseas missionary and instantly start comparing.
I know I did!
Many allow the enemy to influence their thoughts and get them to believe things like:
“I don’t have time to do that!”
“I don’t have money to do that!”
”I could never go overseas.”
”I am not spiritually mature enough to do that.”
”Well the Lord didn’t gift me in evangelism so I can’t share the gospel or pay for people.”
The lies are endless because the enemy is going to do the best he can to make us believe that we are not good enough and that we can’t make a difference.
I get it!
Being back in America for the last two months have been some of the most challenging within the past two years.
In just this short amount of time I have battled with the thoughts of purposelessness, loneliness and desiring to go back to the life I was living of traveling and doing ministry everyday.
“I wish I could do what I did!”
But the reality is that we always want what we don’t have!
I remember wanting to be home so I could be with my sister and mom.
But now that that’s where I am, I want to be back out on the field!
BUT THIS IS MY MISSION FIELD!
Right now. Right where I am. I am a missionary.
In America. With a job. Without a job. At church. At the grocery store. At the gym. In my family. Surrounded by strangers. I AM A MISSIONARY. THIS IS MY MISSION FIELD.
America needs Jesus just as much as the rest of the world and if this is where God has planted us, then it is our responsibility to live and love as Jesus here!
For many reasons sharing Jesus in America seems more intimidating than going to a foreign country where they don’t speak our language.
But God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
He is the same God here as He is in other countries.
And we are just as capable here as we are on a mission trip because of His Holy Spirit inside of us.
Sometimes we over complicate it so I wanted to share a few of the everyday opportunities the Lord has provided here in America.
Praying for the local librarian because her neck was stiff and in pain.
Praying for my cousin who was sick with two ear infections.
Praying for healing for my elderly friends at water aerobics.
Encouraging a worker at a restaurant, reminding him that he’s seen and doing a great job.
Sitting and having conversation with a group of elderly men at Chick-Fil-A.
Praying healing over the wrist of the lady taking our dinner order.
Taking time to talk and listen to a stranger’s story in the airport as I wait to board my plane.
Sharing the gospel with the man next to me on the plane.
Staying at the bank a little longer to help a family experiencing car troubles.
Helping my sister clean her car and house to prepare for her baby’s arrival.
Praying healing over a man in Target.
Paying for the person behind me in the drive-thru.
It doesn’t have to be this complicated, scary, intimidating, miraculous event.
It’s everyday giving away the love of Jesus in whatever form the Lord provides.
It DOES take time.
It DOES take saying yes and stepping into courage and boldness.
YOU are a missionary.
YOU are an evangelist.
YOU are a child of God.
YOU are enough.
AND YOU CAN DO THIS!!
So give yourself self an extra 30 minutes/ 1 hour on your way to do your normal daily activities and see how the Holy Spirit interrupts and uses you.
Take time and say yes because God wants to use you right where you are!
YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS!
