Due to the numerous concerns that have been voiced by friends and family, I decided to dedicate this post to, Lord willing, calm those fears and quiet those concerns. While I appreciate and am touched by the concerns that many people have brought to the surface, I did want to say a few things about what the Bible says about such fears.
Even though I'm not totally certain as to the safety of Zambia, I can say without a doubt, that I will be safe. It is far more dangerous for me to be out of the Lord's will, living in disobedience to His call, then it would be for me to go to an uncivilized, dangerous, disease-infested jungle...(which, I can assure you, I will NOT be doing.:) I know without a doubt, that upon the promises of His Word, the Lord will protect me while I'm doing His work in Zambia. Physical danger is a state of this world. It is not a thing of the spirit, but of the flesh. However, if the Lord did by some chance allow my physical body to be harmed, I would still rather be in the Lord's will, suffering for His sake, then to be content and happy in a life apart from His blessings.(1 Peter 4:12-19) I am a vessel for His use, a tool in the hand of God. What He chooses to allow into my life, I will gladly accept, knowing it's far better to please Him and suffer, then to turn from His will. Anything He allows in my life He will work for good. (Romans 8:28-29) I live to please my Father and glorify Him with my actions. If that means, having my physical body harmed, then so be it. Suffering for Christ leads to blessings. ( 1 Peter 3:14) I would therefore, rather suffer for my God, then suffer for going against my God.
I firmly believe, that when someone makes the choice to follow the Lord wherever He leads, there will be nothing that can harm them, if it is not in God's will for them. Jeremiah 29:11 states that He knows what plans He has for us, and that His plans are not plans to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. Since that is true, how then can this trip be harmful to me since it is His plan for me? We are called to obey the Lord in all things ( 1 Peter 1:14, John 12:26, John 14:15, 23 24) Not just the things that we want to obey. In doing so, we will be blessed with peace and protection! (Deuteronomy 28:2, Genesis 35:1-15) Further more, obeying the Lord leads to a life of blessedness. If we are blessed when we follow the Lord, how much more so when we serve Him and obey His will!!!
Therefore, I can rest upon these promises, knowing that through His hands, I will be safer then I have ever been before! I have an absolute peace and serenity in the thought of my Great Father protecting me, because I know His protection is greater then any protection I can ever have receive! We, in our sinful state are weak and fearful, and prone to falter, but my God is great and mighty in strength! He is everlasting, with unwavering energy and power! "By you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall" (2 Samuel 22:30). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). This is true, and so much more! I can therefore, go out by His strength, to do His work, without fear or anxiety knowing that I am in the care of the Great Shepherd Himself.
Even though I'm not totally certain as to the safety of Zambia, I can say without a doubt, that I will be safe. It is far more dangerous for me to be out of the Lord's will, living in disobedience to His call, then it would be for me to go to an uncivilized, dangerous, disease-infested jungle...(which, I can assure you, I will NOT be doing.:) I know without a doubt, that upon the promises of His Word, the Lord will protect me while I'm doing His work in Zambia. Physical danger is a state of this world. It is not a thing of the spirit, but of the flesh. However, if the Lord did by some chance allow my physical body to be harmed, I would still rather be in the Lord's will, suffering for His sake, then to be content and happy in a life apart from His blessings.(1 Peter 4:12-19) I am a vessel for His use, a tool in the hand of God. What He chooses to allow into my life, I will gladly accept, knowing it's far better to please Him and suffer, then to turn from His will. Anything He allows in my life He will work for good. (Romans 8:28-29) I live to please my Father and glorify Him with my actions. If that means, having my physical body harmed, then so be it. Suffering for Christ leads to blessings. ( 1 Peter 3:14) I would therefore, rather suffer for my God, then suffer for going against my God.
I firmly believe, that when someone makes the choice to follow the Lord wherever He leads, there will be nothing that can harm them, if it is not in God's will for them. Jeremiah 29:11 states that He knows what plans He has for us, and that His plans are not plans to harm us, but to give us hope and a future. Since that is true, how then can this trip be harmful to me since it is His plan for me? We are called to obey the Lord in all things ( 1 Peter 1:14, John 12:26, John 14:15, 23 24) Not just the things that we want to obey. In doing so, we will be blessed with peace and protection! (Deuteronomy 28:2, Genesis 35:1-15) Further more, obeying the Lord leads to a life of blessedness. If we are blessed when we follow the Lord, how much more so when we serve Him and obey His will!!!
Therefore, I can rest upon these promises, knowing that through His hands, I will be safer then I have ever been before! I have an absolute peace and serenity in the thought of my Great Father protecting me, because I know His protection is greater then any protection I can ever have receive! We, in our sinful state are weak and fearful, and prone to falter, but my God is great and mighty in strength! He is everlasting, with unwavering energy and power! "By you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall" (2 Samuel 22:30). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). This is true, and so much more! I can therefore, go out by His strength, to do His work, without fear or anxiety knowing that I am in the care of the Great Shepherd Himself.
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to keep that which he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
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