"I will walk by faith even when I cannot see, because this broken road prepares your will for me."
These lyrics from a song by Jeremy Camp called "walk by faith" have really become an anthem for my life in this season. As most of you know by now, Erin and I along with the Powell family have surrendered to the call of foreign missions to the country of Bolivia. We visited the country back in July of 2012 and, after many confirmations, we believe that this is where God the Father is sending us to minister the wonderful message of reconciliation through the all sufficient sacrifice of God the Son so that God the Holy Spirit can inhabit and enable the recipients of that message to proclaim its goodness to others. I apologize if that last sentence sounded a little too theological, I guess that's what happens when you read too many Charles Spurgeon sermons. That was a joke by the way, feel free to insert laughter now.
Anyhow, packing up a family of six and a family of five and moving them all to Bolivia, which is over 2,500 miles away, will be no easy task. This move will propose many and various obstacles that will be sure to test our faith (hence the title of this blog), however, we do not rely on our own strength, but only in the complete and total sovereignty of our Great God. I hope not to sound too naive, because I realize that it will be hard and there will be times that we struggle in the process, but nothing brings me greater comfort than to know that God is in control, which is why I have to remind myself of that truth often.
I encourage you, sons and daughters of God, to rest in this fact and to not lose heart. Remember and find comfort in the words of the psalmist that say, "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them" (Psalm 139:16). God is never caught off guard by our circumstances and what we are walking through because according to the psalmist, he ordained it before we even existed. Knowing that, we can truly obey the scriptures when it says to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), because we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Sorry to get off topic, but I believe that someone needed to hear that.
I know the journey ahead of us will prove to be treacherous and turbulent at times, partly because we are already feeling the jolts, but I have decided in my heart to walk by faith and not to rely on what I can see with my eyes. I have to choose, just like you, to believe and trust in what it is that the Lord has spoken to my heart. Abraham could easily see the stars, but he couldn't see the future, yet he never wavered in the purpose and promises of God.
I realize, just as the last part of that chorus line above says, that sometimes it's the broken road that prepares His will for me. Sometimes it's the struggles and difficulties along the way that make us who we are, and also make arriving at our destination that much sweeter. Sometimes we have this misconception that when we surrender our lives to Christ, everything is gonna be easy, but Jesus never said that. Jesus actually said that in this world we would have tribulation, but to take heart because he overcame the world (John 16:33).
I say that to say, I don't have a bunch of false expectations that this journey is gonna be a cake walk, but I do find comfort in knowing that He has sent his Holy Spirit, which is our comforter and counselor, to walk with us. My favorite line from the hymn Amazing Grace is, "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, but Grace has brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home". That's the promise that I hold on to throughout this wild adventure that we are stepping into.
On a lighter note, to sum up the journey we are embarking on, I will use a quote from Tigger in Winnie the Pooh, "it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be greeaat!".
God Bless
Chris
