The life of a missionary is fraught with ups and downs. Elijah had his high moments on top of Mt. Carmel and his low moments running from Queen Jezebel. Peter had his high moments doing ministry with Jesus but experienced an all-time low after denying his Lord and seeing Him crucified. Despite the downs that His workers experienced, God didn’t give up on them. In fact, in their times of weariness and discouragement, God provided them with rest and food. After they were revived, He re-commissioned them to go for Him.

I take comfort in these stories because, in the 16 years that we have been working to win the hearts of the Gogodala for Christ, I have had some high moments and some moments when, quite frankly, it seems like every drop has been drained out of the dregs of life. And it is often at those times that I have been tempted to feel like my work is in vain, kind of the way Elijah felt while running from Queen Jezebel after the Mt. Carmel experience.

Didn’t we just baptize that person, and now he is doing THIS? Are there any believers out there? These are the kind of thoughts that get us missionaries down. I guess that comes with the territory. But speaking as one who has seen Gogodala children grow to be adults, I have learned that the road to the Kingdom is paved with grace. The same grace that God extends to me, I have the duty to extend to others.

Consider the truthful words found in this old hymn written by the late Annie Johnson Flint:

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

I hope these words encourage you as they have this revived missionary.

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