I personally prefer for God to speak directly to me and give me an assignment. I generally forget the next step—that it will take a lot of adjusting on MY part. I don’t mind adventures to other countries. Most people understand a love of travel, but I have a love of going on mission.
In 2010, I packed three ridiculously heavy bags and boarded a plane to Costa Rica. Panic struck and my intrepid nature began to falter. Where will I find confidence to share my faith in Spanish? I continued to push through every thought of inadequacy. Yet fear found fire. My cell phone didn’t work. My calling cards were useless. I was cut off from Facebook and my people at home. I held back tears as I searched in vain for Diet Coke. I was forced to beg teenagers in our group if I could borrow IPods to communicate with my husband in the States. I was about to turn 40 years old! Even after ten years, those teenagers who are now beautifully grown with families still tease me, You gonna cry? On day two, I hiked humid dirt alleys to worship behind ghetto fences. Terrified yet transfixed, I sat on a faded plastic chair humbled beyond words. A local minister and former gang member preached Forget Not! He reminded me that my present condition on earth will not surpass my position in Christ. Condition v. Position The preacher read from Psalm 103: Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits David Platt also informed me in Radical that God delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts us in situations where we are face to face with our need for him! In Costa Rica, all my inabilities were exalted. I was emptied out of ME and was now ready for HIM. I became renewed as I praised his Holy name. I surrendered my condition and chose my position in Christ. The next day, I dug a really big hole that became the support column to a porch entrance of an orphanage. I played a VBS game with a group of little girls who had once been sold as prostitutes by their parents. I sat on the flooded concrete floor of a worship hall with a four -year girl named Sailing. She found me immediately and questioned me. She asked me why I came to see her if I had a family at home. I explained that God wanted me right there at that moment with her. All this talking in Spanish and she held my hand, whispering thank you. God accomplishes His purpose through those He calls. It could have been anyone at that church with Sailing, yet I had said yes to going. I was right where God wanted me - doing what He asked me to do. Henry Blackaby said it best. You cannot stay where you are and go with God. Blackaby also explains that adjustments are always going to be necessary when God calls you. This happened countless times in the Bible. Some people might not like adjusting their lives to God’s plan. I must remember that I find my confidence in Him- for His Glory. When we surrender to God, we make the adjustments and changes He asks of us. He will not abandon us.
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JoAnna Arnold
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