Each night, the fourteen of us sit around our common living space and talk about our day. It is a time filled with sharing moments with children at the care points. Sometimes it's sad stories of the kids' lives at home. Sometimes it's happy stories of a brief break in the language barrier where we were able to share something about Jesus with a child. There are stories of praying with the sick and elderly at the Hope House. Also, stories of passing out food in Manzini and the many people we were able to share the gospel with and pray for, even leading some to salvation in Jesus.
But there is an elephant in the room every time we share.
Not because of what we are sharing, but because of what we're not.
Mission trips…
the very phrase brings to mind a thought,
or idea
Or a stigma?
We go with great expectation of God,
but perhaps that expectation limits us.
The pressure to bring back the
tales and gales of miracles,
lives changed,
and mission "success"
is ever present in our thoughts.
And we become discouraged when we don't see what we Expect.
What if God's expectations are not the same as mine?
What if God's desires and plans are not the same as mine?
Am I okay with that?
Are you?
What if I don't see amazing, big miracles?
What if we don't see a huge revival break out as thousands come forward to receive
the grace freely offered?
Do we worship the fruit? Or do we worship the gardener?
Do we worship the miracles or the miracle worker?
Do we desire the healing or the healer?
We go with great expectation of God, but perhaps that limits us from seeing what God is ACTUALLY doing…
His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
Oh that we would see you in the small ways, the mundane days, our normal day to day. Oh that a mission trip would not be so different from our lives. Not because nothing special happens when we go on a mission trip, but because we live everyday looking for Jesus.
As I read this, I feel i needed this today. Feeling discourage for not seeing miracles in my own mission field. I never thought of it as worshipping the fruit. Conviction fills my heart, but joyous to know God is teaching and exhorting me. Thank you for this. As all of us are in our own mission field.
GOD is good……….I HAD ALSO SEEN MIRACLES HAPPENING AROUND ME.GOD ALSO HELPED ME IN MY LIFE.HE SHOWED ME HIS MERCY AND LOVE. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU *
JOANITHA COETZEE
Your thoughts are well expressed and well taken. I am reminded of Jesus saying to his disciples after they returned from a missions trip and HAD experienced great miracles, “Rejoice not in… but rejoice in that your names are written in heaven.” I often think of that to keep me focused on what matters most.