God often gives us just what we need at just the right time, doesn't He? He knows our needs so much better than we know ourselves, and uses various ways to reach out to our longings, our needs and our deep questions.
A few months ago, a couple friends from church were having a garage sale that we went to, and as I was looking through the stack of books there, my friend Linda handed me a book off the table and said, "take this one, you'll love it!" Since I usually geekily am reading health and nutrition books, I didn't think much of it, but took it anyways. I didn't start reading right away, but then after a few weeks, I dug in. Wow, she was right. It was just what I needed right then. It offered hope, encouragement, peace, and trust as Katie shared the story of her life. Here in the US, and then of her adventures as a missionary in Uganda. I won't go into the whole story, but just will share a few quotes that I gleaned from it. Even though her life is very different from our life here, the basic tenets are the same~ loving those in front of us right now, sharing the gospel, meeting their physical needs as best we can. (If you can't read the quotes, click on each quote and they should enlarge.)
Of course, I couldn't wait to read the second book, written 10 years later. To see what happens next. After waiting an excruciating 2 weeks to get it on order from the library, I dug in. And, I would dare to say it was even better than the first. To see the maturity as she grew in the Lord, her even harder challenges she handled with grace, and her encouragement to be willing to go through the hard times knowing that the Lord is on our side, continually shaping us into the likeness of His Son. To learn to dare to love again and again, especially when we've been hurt so deeply. To keep on loving unconditionally through the hard places where we would rather not go, because that's what Jesus does for us. He loves us when we're unlovable, when we're broken, scared and alone. And that's what he wants for us to know and share with those who are also broken, scared and alone.
What about when our stories don't end up the way we want them to? Is God still faithful? She encourages us to pray for us to have God's eyes for those around us. "Father, give me Your love for them. Give me your eyes for this man, this woman, this child. Show me how You see each one." It doesn't always happen overnight, but over time we learn how to do this. She also tells how loving people is a bit of a mess. We share their joys, but we also share their pain. This is where the Gospel rubber meets the road. Are we willing to go to the hard places with those we love? Do we really know who Christ is, or do we only have lip service of Him? Did Jesus ever turn people away because they hurt him? Or refuse to heal them because they were too dirty/unclean/sinful? Even though He knew they would get sick and dirty again, He still took care to show His love and healing. The Bible tells us that Jesus was "moved with compassion" (Matt 9:36). Can we also feel this way with the hurting? Yes, we can but it's much harder than loving those who are more lovable.
Jesus feels our pain and walks with us through those hard places. He weeps with us and rejoices with us. Katie tells here how when Lazarus died, Jesus still wept with Mary and Martha even though He knew what He was going to do to raise Lazarus back up. Doesn't He still do that with us, even though He knows the end of the story? Whether it turns out "good" or it doesn't?
Throughout the book, it's our faithfulness in all the small events of each day in our normal, old lives that teach of us God's faithfulness towards us. He wants us to trust Him in each little detail of our lives, in order that He might show forth His faithfulness and fulfill His promises of making us more Christ-like and walking closer to Him. The more we rely on Him, the closer we are drawn to Him.
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