“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1)
In our calling to make disciples we are not to do it alone. Yet, with social media and all kinds of technology, we still often find ourselves feeling isolated. There are times to retreat but more often than not, we are in danger of giving up too early. What can we learn from others who run well and are worthy of imitating so we can stick it out?
Gaining Perspective
I often find courage and inspiration to go forward by reading testimonies of women in the Bible, historical women missionaries, and/or godly women of today. (Suggested readings below)
The witness of these women inspire me and often give me needed perspective and much hope for my call in Mission. Their stories challenge me to stick out my calling even in the toughes of seasons.
What do we know about historical women living during the 19 century? What can we learn from them as they left the shores of America to cross cultures for the sake of the Gospel? Many left knowing there would be persecution and political turmoil, possible sex discrimination, loneliness, team dissensions, homesickness, and in some places child rearing in malaria-infested regions. (Tucker, p. 11-12)
They left family and their places to fulfill their callings. These women, due to lack of modern medicine, technology and better transportation often experienced premature death of self and/or children, going to places of service never to come back again. Taking care of their families in the midst of their ministry calling’s must not have been easy, yet they went. They stuck it out. We have much to learn from them.
We, here in the western world have many opportunities as women, to get education, have our own career and for the most part have our own identities. Yet, for half the world, education and technology, especially for women, still remains elusive if not available at all. (“Half the Sky”).
We do not have to face some of the same fears that the modern missionary of the 19 century faced yet transitioning to another place for a woman is a big change nonetheless. We have our own set of fears. I am sure many of you can vouch for this!
In our call to go and serve with another people, we are making many choices. We will leave behind friends, family, and neighborhoods that have come dear to us. We will leave behind our own culture, our role(s), many comforts we have come to enjoy, and possibly our own language.
In some places we are still choosing to face various tropical diseases foreign to us in spite of modern medicine. There may be also persecutions encountered due to our faith in Jesus. Often going forward into the unknown. Yet, we are still asked just like the missionary woman in history, to live out our faith where God has assigned us.
Where has God assigned you? What are you facing?
What can we learn from these women to help us gain perspective going forward and bring hope for what we are doing now?
If God can use these women as they encountered all kinds of situations, choosing often the unknown to follow Jesus, is it not possible that He could use you and me too?
Hebrews 10:24, 25, tells us to “…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, …encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
(Study on Mary and Martha)
One way we can gain strength and consider how to spur our hearts on is by reading historical and biblical biographical accounts or spending time with other godly women; asking God to align our thoughts of reality up with His perspective.
As a Life Coach myself, I find great value gleaning from another wise woman who can coach me at certain seasons of life. This exposure brings clarity and hope when I am feeling stuck.
COUNTING THE COST
In the Old Testament and on down through history, we read and hear about many women who went against the culture of their day for the cause of the Gospel. God used them greatly because of their courage to trust Him with their lives.
Ann Judson, wife of Adoniram Judson, was one of the first missionary wives to go out from America in the early 1800’s. I perceive her as one of my mentors. Even though she no longer lives, her legacy and testimony lives on.
During the time of Ann Judson, we read about the start of one great ministry opportunities for women in ministry. It was called the “Modern Missionary Movement era”. Women saw mission service as a great avenue to serve in God’s Kingom work. Women knew moving to another place would be difficult yet they still chose to go. God was doing a new thing and these women wanted to be a part of it.
What did it cost them to leave everything and go cross-culturally to do mission work?
For Ann it cost her, her life. Yet Ann Judson, contributed to pioneer missions and education to both men and women. She changed a culture through her writings. She stirred the church back home to send out more workers. Her letters made people aware of the needs in Burma which mobilized them to want to go. She took in orphan children so they wouldn’t be sold into slavery and fought against it.
She is really known for keeping her husband alive in jail during the war between the Burmese and the British, in order for him to continue to complete the already 14 year project of translating the bible for the first time into the Burmese language for the people to read. She traveled from jail to jail as her husband would be moved and brought him extra food and water to keep him alive as she lived in nearby horrible places herself. All this cost her, her health and evidently death.
Just like these great women of the past, we must all count the cost of going. At least we should! There are risk factors involved for sure. In counting the cost we need to check out “what are our motives for going?” or “why do we do what we do”? This is what will sustain us during the challenging times when they come and they will. Will we quit or will we stick it out?
So more importantly “WHOM” are we doing it for? We need to go back to that calling, God Himself.
REMEMBER THE SCRIPTURE
Scripture is full of “remembers”. All through the Old testament God reminds His people not to forget God.
It is important we take time to remember, align ourselves with God, and then gain hope for the future.
What God did do through the lives of men and women throughout history, even through us, in the past, He can do through us now and in the future. We read stories like Ruth and Esther where we see God at work even in the midst of their pain and/or challenages of daily decisions.
God says in Hebrew 13: “He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will never leave us or forsake us.”
David said in Psalm 37:25 “Even when I was young, and now that I am old, God has never forgotten me. I have never seen His children begging for bread”.
We can have confidence in God to be who He says He is. Take time to “remember”.
The heart and staying power of these women’s motivation in the face of much opposition was, the Gospel and their calling, “remembering God”.
The work is not finished. God is still calling out His workwomen. Like others, I want to continue to “remember GOD” and what He is doing in the world. I want to be about being a part of His Gospel, counting the cost, reaching those that have not heard. Being inspired to follow the example of those such as Ruth, Esther, Mary, Martha, Anne Judson, Carolyn Custis James and many others, who have gone before, setting the standard high, have done. How about you?
1“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” http://esv.to/Heb12.1-2
We are not alone!
After reading this blog article how is God speaking to you?…… Would love to hear your thoughts.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How did God lead you to this assignment? What things did you not account for before you left or you did but still find it hard? What blessings do you see in making this decision? What woman inspires you to have courage to go forward? Explain…. If no woman is around are there any biographical accounts you can find and start reading. How about a Life Coach? Anythoughts?
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey,
“Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
