As a new year begins…
About 30 years ago my husband and I felt called to sell everything and become debt-free, so we could engage in full time ministry. We put everything up for sale and prayed and waited. A series of miracles happened rapid-fire as our business and houses sold. Debts were paid and we made our big move to our sort-of promised land. We were overwhelmed by His goodness and provision. The enthusiasm bubbled and energized us.
But once we moved, we met disaster after disaster, until a year later we were on the verge of bankruptcy. The buyers of our business defaulted so our income dried up. The new place was lonely without friends and family. Worse yet, we found we knew almost nothing about living the country. We were suburbanites with no rural experience. We struggled. This wasn’t the journey we dreamed about. It wasn’t a doorway to ministry, it was torture. Were we even on the right road?
Then I recalled the story of Abraham. He obeyed God’s direction and went out, not knowing where he was going. He met nothing but adversity and opposition on his journey. Surely he was more comfortable back home in Haran with his family and friends. This was nothing but struggle day after day. Had he been wrong about what God wanted him to do? I am sure he asked that question a hundred times. We ask that question regularly. We want to be sure we are going where He wants us to go.
Ultimately we have to come to grips with the call itself. God doesn’t call us to be successful. He calls us to be faith-full. In these adversities you learn more about Him and about yourself and your complete need of Him than you would have learned any other way. It’s part of the journey, His reshaping and molding us. It’s not about the destination, it’s really about the journey.