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It begins as a gut feeling, a heartfelt conviction, or maybe a glimpse of a dream. We pray about it, and we talk with wise, godly people. We move forward making plans and setting appointments. We pray some more, and we continue to seek counsel. Little by little our journey towards that instinct, our dream, begins to unfold. Sometimes it leads down a path we hadn’t expected. Other times we end up making a U-turn. But through it all, God guides us and leads us. It is in His providential love and care that He directs our steps.
Do you remember the first time you thought about being a global worker? It probably began with an instinct, conviction, or dream. In our minds, we could see the course ahead of us. It looked a certain way and had specific agendas. Then we prayed and sought advice from wise counsel. The path diverted a little and took on new forms. We received training, did our research, and took vision trips, and we prayed some more. Again, the journey changed course, sometimes moving full speed ahead and sometimes moving at a snail’s pace. And in the end, we arrived on the field, recognizing that only God could have gotten us there in that specific way, at that specific time.
And more likely than not, we will experience this over and again in our global life. As one ministry ends and another begins or as one effort fails and another succeeds, we look back and see God’s hand guiding us along. In reflection, we learn to trust Him in his providential care, and our faith is strengthened to endure future journeys. When we can’t see the path forward, or when we come up against obstacles or make a mistake, our fears are alleviated by remembering God is sovereign over all of it. He can see the path and the destination, and His plans will not be thwarted (Job 42:2).
We are active participants in the decisions and plans we make, but praise God He is in control and we can trust Him.
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.” (Psalm 145:13)
When you reflect on your global life, in what ways can you see God directing your steps?
When we first moved to Ireland, we were praying for a good home to rent. We looked at several places and were okay with them, but they needed a lot of work and had awkward stipulations from the landlord. We were willing but thought we’d keep looking. Then I saw a sign for a realtor that was the same company as the one my cousin back in Texas worked with so we popped in to ask if they knew of any homes available in our specific area of Galway. Sure enough, there was a home in a great location that needed just a touch of paint on the walls to make it fresh. And the woman who owned it had just sold it to her nephew who had been living abroad in Australia. He and his now wife returned to Ireland shortly after we moved into the house, and they are our dear friends these 22 years later. Not only did God provide our first home for us but also lifelong friends.