Courage

Recently I had a middle schooler ask me to write out our journey as it relates to courage: Here is my response. 

I never intended to be a missionary. As a child, I dreamed of being a movie star or a cowboy and even a professional soccer player, but never a missionary. And if my dream occupation didn’t work out, my childhood dreams were full of snapshot pictures like a large home with a white picket fence. Completing this dream was a husband, children, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 cars. These snapshots were a “perfect life,” that I would build for myself. After college I met a man that had similar dreams and we were married. We began making this perfect life together in the #1 rated city in the nation.

But as we began growing in our faith, we began realizing through our bible studies and spiritual readings that there is a world outside our perfect world, that is not dreamy. We began realizing that only .1% of the world has wealth like ours. That 27% of the world does not own a bible, or have access to hearing about Jesus, and it began breaking our hearts. We prayed for God to show us what our role was in helping spread His word to all nations. We did not think at the time that it meant for our family to become a missionary family.

As we began this journey, God began changing our hearts. We laid our childhood dreams down symbolizing that we would give up everything if He asked us. We began asking God to change our hearts, and if Jesus wants us to leave, He must show us the way and open doors of opportunity and close doors of our life that we had built. We began seeing opportunities where my husband, Mike, could use his business skills for the mission world. And this is what has happened. We are missionaries working for the Lord to get the gospel to the remaining 27% of the world.

It has been hard~ taking courage~ and it has been good. It is hard because we are giving up our childhood dreams and trading them for God’s dreams for us. It has been hard to watch our kids suffer at our life decision. There is a bible verse in Matthew 7:9 that says, “You parents--if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?” At times they asked to stay (bread) and we gave them a stone (moving and leaving all they knew and loved) But we continue to know that when God asks something of you, obey. And we quote Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” Because in our world today, it doesn’t make sense to sell all of our stuff, sell our almost paid off home, leave a job with great benefits and salary, leave family and friends behind for the sake of Christ.  We pray that God will work it all out. We also say this phrase a lot- “Trust God and leave the consequences to Him.” Because He is worth it. To quote C.S. Lewis from the Chronicles of Narnia, “Is He safe? No! But He (God) is good. And this has been good.

In closing, does it take courage to be a missionary? Doing anything that you believe in takes courage. Although this has not been an easy journey, it is deeply rewarding, joy-filled, and for me, eternally fulfilling. And some days, when I do not have the courage, I know I can depend on God as He says in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” And we know our courage is from Him and for Him.