Little Lessons in Faith

Last weekend, Jason and I had the privilege to go and work with a missionary who is beginning a church plant in the states. He has been a missionary for many years and has planted five churches in five countries throughout his ministry. I made a late decision in the week to travel with Jason so I really began the trip by scurrying around to make sure I had all I needed packed. We took Miss Addison with us and if you have a little one you know there are always a million things you can’t forget!

As we start our journey very early Saturday morning I ask (for at least the fifth time) where we are to meet the missionary. My husband replies (for at the least the fifth time) “I don’t know honey, he said he would tell us when we get closer.” I smile and try not to stress, as I am planner and when a trip is involved I have it ALL planned weeks before! True to his word, about 30 minutes before our arrival we get a phone call with directions on where to meet. Now, we are heading his way and after a missed road, missed address and miscommunication we finally arrive at the said location. We are excited to have arrived and Addison is soooo ready to get out of the car so we let her run around and wait for our “assignment.” An hour or so later we all climb back into the van and head into the town. I am not rambling as I do have a point to this play by play of our trip. :-)

It doesn’t take me long to realize that there is no real plan in place. I am close to hyperventilating and smiling all the while keeping Addison content in the back seat as we are back in the van for what seems like forever. But here is where my afore mentioned point comes in… This missionary is praying about the next step before any decision is made. We pray together for protection before we leave the first location, we pray about lodging before lodging is secured, we pray about our meal before the meal is decided on. What a lesson!!

I will save you the details of the rest of the weekend but will try to just give an over view. We began to pray before ANY decision was made for the entirety of the weekend. We would ask the missionary a question and he would say, “I’m not sure just yet, I have to pray about it first.” I don’t think I can adequately describe what this did for me on a spiritual and practical level. Here is a missionary who has given EVERYTHING to the Lord and has been used mightily in his work and he literally takes his work, one step at a time. I’m not saying he does not have a plan for this church plant, I believe God has led him in the work. But the details of the work are very much up to God!

So last weekend, I learned not to fret so much, not to plan so much and to let go and let God lead. I am still trying to wrap my mind and heart around trusting Him for EVERY little thing. Maybe you have a BIG need or maybe you just need to pray and ask if you should go to Wal-Mart now or later, whatever the need is, I encourage you to pray about it. I found myself praying about many little things this week, I needed meat for meals and prayed that God would give me some reduced meat at the grocery store and I am happy to say I found $28 worth of meat for only $13! You just never know what a little praying will do!