Standing on the Edge

Have you ever stood on the edge of something really big? It can be very frightening or completely thrilling. I remember being a young girl with my toes firmly planted in the sand just staring at the immense ocean with ferocious waves beating the earth before me. The sound of crashing waves dulled most other sounds until all I heard was the roaring of the ocean. I stood transfixed by the power of the mighty water and thought: “If this frightens and awes me so much, what would it be like to see God, the Creator of the sea?”

Sometimes we seek out that which scares or excites us. James went on a Maranatha Volunteers trip to Peru in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed touring Machu Pichu. He loves to climb tall, craggy mountains and gaze at the world below.

On occasion we find ourselves on the edge of something really big--something that is dropped into our lives unexpected and unwanted. For me, it was cancer. It brought my life to a temporary halt as I tried to find answers and meaning. It was a time filled with intense emotions.

Whether we seek these emotion packed moments or whether they come to us without warning, they make us stop and think about how small we really are and how great our God is. It is exactly at this time that we lose sight of self and focus more closely on the beautiful character of our Lord and Savior.

James and I are standing on the edge of something very big, however we are not alone. We are joined by 14 other people who are willing to do what author Henry Blackaby suggested in his book Experiencing God: “Find out where God is at work and join Him there”. Some of our team members are seasoned workers and others are joining in for the first time, but we are all of one accord—to do the will of the Lord wherever and in whatever capacity He calls us.

Fellow missionaries, today we are 6 weeks out from our day of departure. Are you ready? I mean spiritually ready? Are you ready for physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges?

There will be discomfort. There may even be disappointment. But there are people waiting for us to share the love of Christ with them…people who speak a different language (culturally and linguistically); people who will watch how we speak and act. Will your character be that of Christ? Will they see His love no matter what language we speak?

I challenge you to spend time each day with God—now and each day throughout the mission trip. Ask Him to change your character into that which would please Him. Ask Him to reveal His character to you through the Scripture and through the people you encounter each day.

“And you shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:13