All excuses gone. Still the conviction lingered. After a week of fasting and praying, my wife and I realized that we were the ones holding us back. “God, are you really calling us to be long-term missionaries in an unreached area?” Neither of us had much prior overseas experience, and we did not want to be presumptuous, walking into something for which we were not qualified. However, we both had the inner sense that the Spirit was leading us down the path of an unknown adventure.
What should we do? That was the question with which we had been wrestling.
Ever felt God leading you to do something radical, entirely outside your comfort zone, that others may question or try to dissuade you from pursuing . . . yet the call was biblical? Have you ever been afraid to go forward? What do you do in these moments?
Ellen White reminds us: “Often the Christian life is beset by dangers, and duty seems hard to perform. The imagination pictures impending ruin before and bondage or death behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly, ‘Go forward.’ We should obey this command, even though our eyes cannot penetrate the darkness, and we feel the cold waves about our feet (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 290).
Throughout history, God has led His people into perplexing situations, necessitating their exercise of faith. We should not be surprised when we encounter similar trials. Take that step into the scary unknown. Exercise your faith.
“The obstacles that hinder our progress will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey at all. Unbelief whispers, ‘Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and we can see our way clearly,’ but faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things” (ibid).
As my wife and I discussed the situation one sunny spring afternoon, we knew that we needed to place everything in God’s hands and take that step of faith. We decided to move forward with our application to become AFM career missionaries. We told God that we were willing to go as far as He led, that if it was not His will that we be missionaries, to please shut the door.
Our adventure began. God opened many doors for us, leading us step by step to Thailand. Fourteen years later, I clearly see that those first steps of faith paved the way for God to unlock His power in our lives. God faithfully blesses and honors the genuine faith that we demonstrate.
God desires to do the same for you. Lay aside your excuses and pray to God regarding your conviction. Exercise your faith and follow Him. We are here to help you enter the world of the unreached. Please contact us at recruiter@afmonline.org or 800.937.4236.
