On the weekend, I heard the story of a family serving overseas.
They serve in a country full of violence towards Christians, with the violence increasing daily.
They live in an area where other Christian workers have already been seized and forcibly sent away.
They are among the last left to serve.
They have seen their friends injured, even killed for their beliefs, for their undying faith to the King and Father of all.
They themselves have been warned that those who have been interrogated have said things to reveal their role as Christian workers to the government.
The countdown has began on their time for service in this country, a countdown with an unknown number.
At any time, they too could be taken into custody and eventually deported.
And all this while their oldest daughter is preparing for her year 12 exams.
And I sit back and I reflect on my life and shake my head at my selfishness.
I stress about my assignments, I freak out about my exams, I want it over with and I want it to simply disappear.
But really? What have I got to stress about?
The grade I get at the end of all this is not who I am.
The way I perform this year is irrelevant to the progress of God's Kingdom.
I live in peace and security.
My life is not threatened, not even in a small way.
I have so many options lying before me.
Surely, stressing out about this year and where it is going is selfish, ungrateful and completely ungodly.
This family, they did not send us their story so we would feel sorry for them. They sent it so that we could pray for them.
Prayer. The only proper response to the stresses of life.
Prayer and the acknowledgement that everything that happens is for the glory of God's Kingdom.
Prayer and the recognition that only God's strength can get me through this world.
Prayer and the realization that I have been so blessed and have so much to be grateful for.
And so, when life gets stressful, I must remember to turn my eyes back to God, Jehovah Jireh, my Provider.
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