A Conviction to Obey
It is hard to wade through the raw feelings that surround transition. We have been waist-deep in the waters of transition for the last 7 months. We have tried to be intentional in balancing quality time with family and friends while also making preparations for a move overseas. However, we can’t deny the darker cloud of grief hovering over our gatherings and usual traditions that seem to be numbered before we move.
Reality has begun to sink in as moments of being in close proximity to loved ones will soon turn into video chats, letters, and sporadic messages. While it’s hard to sit in those moments of raw emotions, they are valid and need to recognized as such. We would love to say that all of our family members share in the same level of support in this calling, but that’s not the case. Over the last 7 months, many conversations have been had; some easier, and some harder as we try to talk through this calling in order to make it make sense to everyone. As you can imagine, that puts some heat into our lives as we navigate our life transition. Does the heat make us uncomfortable? Yes. Is God still good? Yes, because He is right there in the fire with us.
During our travels over this past Christmas, we listened to God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherill (highly recommend). His testimony throughout the book resonated with us as we reflected on our journey of discernment. It also affirmed that this is the path God has called us to at this time.
Brother Andrew talks about his surrender to God in a bold prayer where he says “Whenever, wherever, however You want me, I'll go. And I'll begin this very minute. Lord, as I stand up from this place, and as I take my first step forward, will You consider this is a step toward complete obedience to You? I'll call it the step of yes.”
Obedience. It’s not for the faint of heart. We live in a world where people have opinions about every minute thing someone does or says. Where each decision is questioned. Some understand without question, some understand after you answer a few questions, and others ask question upon question and still don’t understand. And quite honestly, we don’t always understand the whole picture.
But isn’t that the beauty of having faith in a sovereign God? It’s one thing to say we believe in a sovereign God; it’s one step further to act in faith that He truly is sovereign and in control whether we are here in the states or overseas in some remote place. That no matter the hills and valleys we experience, He is working all things together for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28, Romans 11:36).
So here we are...stepping out in obedience to the conviction He has laid on our hearts, making the move to western Asia to begin training in hopes of making His glory known, through Christ, among all the nations by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“That’s the excitement in obedience,’ he said. ‘Finding out later what God had in mind.”
― Brother Andrew
God's Smuggler
Reality has begun to sink in as moments of being in close proximity to loved ones will soon turn into video chats, letters, and sporadic messages. While it’s hard to sit in those moments of raw emotions, they are valid and need to recognized as such. We would love to say that all of our family members share in the same level of support in this calling, but that’s not the case. Over the last 7 months, many conversations have been had; some easier, and some harder as we try to talk through this calling in order to make it make sense to everyone. As you can imagine, that puts some heat into our lives as we navigate our life transition. Does the heat make us uncomfortable? Yes. Is God still good? Yes, because He is right there in the fire with us.
During our travels over this past Christmas, we listened to God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherill (highly recommend). His testimony throughout the book resonated with us as we reflected on our journey of discernment. It also affirmed that this is the path God has called us to at this time.
Brother Andrew talks about his surrender to God in a bold prayer where he says “Whenever, wherever, however You want me, I'll go. And I'll begin this very minute. Lord, as I stand up from this place, and as I take my first step forward, will You consider this is a step toward complete obedience to You? I'll call it the step of yes.”
Obedience. It’s not for the faint of heart. We live in a world where people have opinions about every minute thing someone does or says. Where each decision is questioned. Some understand without question, some understand after you answer a few questions, and others ask question upon question and still don’t understand. And quite honestly, we don’t always understand the whole picture.
But isn’t that the beauty of having faith in a sovereign God? It’s one thing to say we believe in a sovereign God; it’s one step further to act in faith that He truly is sovereign and in control whether we are here in the states or overseas in some remote place. That no matter the hills and valleys we experience, He is working all things together for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28, Romans 11:36).
So here we are...stepping out in obedience to the conviction He has laid on our hearts, making the move to western Asia to begin training in hopes of making His glory known, through Christ, among all the nations by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“That’s the excitement in obedience,’ he said. ‘Finding out later what God had in mind.”
― Brother Andrew
God's Smuggler
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments