When my husband and I entered NTM’s Mission Training Centre,
we were headed to West Africa. I had
wanted to minister there since I was a little girl. Bill (my husband) and I had visited four
years earlier, thoroughly enjoying our time, and left feeling, "Yes, we
could see ourselves serving here."
Fast forward four years, and we’re in training for full-time
tribal missions work. One day, in
chapel, a missionary shared about their ministry in Paraguay, South America, a
field where NTM has worked for almost 70 years.
After chapel, my husband tells me, “I can really see us working in
Paraguay.” I say, “Paraguay? You mean Paraguay? Like, Paraguay?” Needless to say, I did not see this coming. I wanted to go to West Africa. Period.
In Romans, we’re given a tiny glimpse of a desire of the
Apostle Paul. In chapter 15:24, he says,
almost in passing, that as he goes to Spain, he hoped to visit with the saints
in Rome. He wanted to go to Spain and
preach the Gospel. But he never got
there.
In II Samuel chapter 7, we see that King David’s desire is
to build a temple for God. Even Nathan,
God’s prophet, says to go for it, that God was with him. That night though, God reveals that no, David
would not be the one to build the temple.
A descendant of his would in fact build it. And later, David explains to Solomon that he
wanted to build the temple, but God told him no, because he had shed much
blood.
Going to West Africa to preach the Gospel. Building a temple for God. Going to Spain to preach the Gospel. These are all good things to desire to do. But even good things may not be the best
thing, or the right thing to do. So then
what?
When plans go awry, what then? When medical issues arise and you can’t go to
serve where you thought you were going, what then? When your husband says Paraguay, and NOT West
Africa, what then? I believe there are
three things that should happen in any believer’s life when things don’t go according
to how we planned them.
PRAY. It may seem
redundant, but our first response to any crisis, whether big or small, is to
pray. Praying aligns are hearts and
attitudes with God’s, and we come away from prayer hopefully more clear-headed.
PURSUE. Pursue God. Not the dream, or destination or desire. When we pursue God above all else, many
desires, dreams, and even destinations often get realized.
PREPARE. When you’ve prayed and pursued God, prepare
yourself. God has incredible things in
store for those who diligently seek HIM.
No place of service, or dream job can compare with knowing God. Paul and David both understood this. In Philippians, Paul talks about having
LEARNED to be content in whatever circumstances he is in. All throughout the Psalms, David talks about
taking refuge in God alone, learning to be content with what God has for him,
even though he didn’t get to do what his heart desired.
As for me? After
praying about going to Paraguay, like my husband asked me to, I pursued God,
wanting to go where HE wanted us to go.
And we are now preparing to go to Paraguay. And I’m content with that.
