I have been meaning to blog for a couple of weeks now.
Life has been, well, life. Busy. Hard. Fun. Sorrowful. Sweet. I am sure you can relate.
Through it all, the Father has been patiently teaching my heart. He, after all, is very kind.
Recently, we have, from afar, witnessed two missionary families go through immense tragedy. One family lost their beloved one month old baby girl. The other family was taken swiftly to be with Jesus in a horrific car accident. These events caused us to look to our Father and ask questions and try to understand His sovereignty in the midst of such suffering and pain. One thing we learned is that we will never be able to fully understand why He allows certain things or the fullness of who He is. If we could understand Him that would take away from His mystery and splendor.
As I have watched these families (in one case the parents and siblings and even friends of the family who went to be with Jesus) walk with such grace through these heartbreaking trials it has caused me to evaluate my own life. How would I walk through such tragedy if I were to lose one of my precious children or have a family whom I loved taken in the blink of an eye? Would I still be able to say that God is good? Would I desire that He be glorified above all? Would I find hope in knowing death is not the end, but that I am living with the hope of eternity with Jesus, in a perfect place that He is preparing for those who love Him? I pray with all my heart I would. In all these things.
The Father has brought me back to simplistic beauty of the Gospel, something that I believe that we as believers can often take for granted. I have been reminded of what a treasure we have in knowing Jesus. He is the only reason these families are able to press on with an even greater passion for people to know the Jesus who has carried them. Because of His death on the cross we now have access to God. In Him we have everlasting hope, peace that passes all understanding, grace upon grace, forgiveness of ALL sins. Praise Him.
So what am I doing these days as we continue to wait for our work permits to come in for Tanzania? I am praying that I can follow in the footsteps of my brothers and sisters in Christ who have lived such an example of following hard after Jesus, no matter the circumstance. He is worth it. I am praying that my passion for both my neighbors here in Virginia and and the people of Tanzania to know Jesus would grow stronger and stronger with each passing day. I want my life to be lived for the sake of the Gospel. That is the only thing that is everlasting.
With a heart heavy, yet full of thanksgiving,
-Jamie