The one word that encapsulates my mission experience the last month is struggle.
My friend has called me pretty regularly the last few months. He has moved to my hometown and is starting his teaching career there. The last few years have been rough and he has undergone some changes in what he thought his life would be. So, as brothers, we have done our best to encourage one another and call each other to greater holiness. It’s been a huge blessing over the past few weeks especially.
The one word that encapsulates my mission experience the last month is struggle. Struggle against my own sin, my own insufficiencies, my own expectations, the expectations of others, other’s sins and the effects of those sins, the weight of ministry and service to God, and finally some good old fashioned darkness. Missionaries often remark that August is the hardest month in Taiwan because of some of the local religious traditions that take place. I can confirm, August sucks.
My friend that I mentioned is also struggling. So is another brother that I talk to regularly. It seems like 2020 will be known as a year of struggle and that’s okay. Not every season is a good season. Even the ground needs fallow times to replenish nutrients. Every field can’t produce harvest all the time. Yet, how do we handle the struggle? There’s really only two options: either we pull up close to God or push Him away.
Some will cling to the Lord in times of struggle like they would cling to a life raft in a storm on the ocean. They read the Scriptures searching for answers and pray fervently like their lives depend on it. Ironically, many are simply realizing for the first time that it does. As believers in Christ our lives DO depend on us drawing close to God and being in fellowship with him. Will we die if we don’t read the Bible? Not physically no but spiritually yes. We must dive into His Word and pray without ceasing always but especially in times of struggle.
Some will do the opposite. Under normal circumstances these are disciplined, loving, and faithful people. Yet, the moment the going gets tough they try and figure things out on their own. They don’t need help and will get it done. This isn’t always done in a sense of extreme pride or arrogance. Sometimes it’s born from a genuine sense of service to God. They want to be mature believers and think that the time of struggle is when God wants them to put into practice the things that they have learned in the calm times. Whether in pride or service is up to the individual.
Which are you? For me, I tend to cling on for dear life in times trouble. This means I need to be more intentional about my walk with the Lord in good times. My friend? He’s learning this lesson too as God matures him and sanctifies him.
In missions, there are many many seasons of struggle. Some last for a short time while others last seemingly forever. The key to longevity is to use those seasons of struggle to really pursue holiness before the Lord. He is exposing our sin to us. These times are a gift even if we do not see it. Cling to Him who has called you.
Romans 8:30 says, “And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” (ESV) This means that if you’re a Christian and have made a genuine confession of faith then you were called by God from before the foundation of the world. If He called you, then He has justified you (or made you guiltless in the eyes of the Law). If He justified you then He will one day glorify you. Meaning you will live in absolute perfection away from sin.
Let that be your hope in times of struggle. Perfection is coming. The Lord is coming. That’s why we labor. Our good God is sanctifying us and making us more like Him each passing day. Trust in His guiding hand. Devour the Word of God. Read it like you eat food. Every single day. Know it, memorize it, meditate on it, and study it’s intricacies. Become someone that can quote Scripture for many situations in life. It won’t make you many friends but it will give you peace like no other.
I’ll end by pointing out even the Lord had extremely tough and barren times in His earthly ministry. Not every person He spoke to became a disciple and not every town accepted Him. Struggle marked the ministry of the Son of Man and will mark the ministries of the sons of men.
That’s all for now travelers.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you peace.
See you next time.
Kenneth See
SRM Founder