Life can be cruel and throw hefty burdens upon us when we least expect it. We try to continue on the journey laid before us and easily slip and fall into the murky mire of pain and sorrow. Detached, depressed disappointed and desperate we shake our fist crying out “Unfair” to the heavens out of a misguided perception of what life is truly about. We forget that it is “not what happens around us, but what happens within us” that truly matters. (Debbie Alsdorf, author of the 30 Day Faith Dare).

 

What an honor when someone invites us into their world to share the burden of their pain through the miracle of prayer. To be that listening ear, compassionate heart and possibly a soft shoulder to cry upon is a great gift. It is an earthly reflection of the heavenly hope we have in Christ as we lift our burdens to Him. As we “daily cast our cares on Him for He cares for us”, we are better poised to remember that He is not as much concerned with our circumstances as He is our character.

 

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”

Elisabeth Elliot~ Keep a Quiet Heart

 

These last two weeks my home has been a flurry of unexpected guests here at the Missions Ranch.  Missionaries come from all over needing a place to stay, a soft bed to sleep on and prayer for the next part of their journey.  Often they bring myriad of challenges along with them.  Hungry and tired, flat tires and dirty washing, my days have been interrupted from “My important” to “Their Urgent” and that is okay.  It is all a part of who we are and what we do as faith missionaries.

Amongst these precious folk are a few who are dealing with serious health issues.  The challenges of serving the Lord as faith missionaries and dealing with systemic infections, dengue, cancer are devastating.  It seems insurmountable.  However, there was a thread of commonality in each of their stories, their undying hope in the Almighty Power of One they can’t see but know He is with them in all things.

I have spent many hours listening, and praying with these precious saints and I am touched.  This is what I hear from them.

It’s not about what happens, to me.  This (illness) will not define who I am.

It is about Him and what He longs to do within me.

 

If you are going through the fire today, if you feel overwhelmed with burden and sorrow, please stop and take a look at the Word of God and the lives of those heroes of the faith who touch us with moments of greatness.  I love to look at Joseph and Paul and the little nameless slave girl who through her faith saved a ruler from leprosy.  And what about the woman who suffered for 14 long years the shame of a disease whereby she was unable to even receive a comforting hug during her affliction?  What faith rose during these storms of life and their stories of triumph linger still today.  We stand amongst the giants when we read of their faith, yet it is not them but HIM who built it up through His love and grace in the the first place.

 

“No words can express how much the world owes to sorrow.

Most of the Psalms were written in the wilderness.

Most of the Epistles were written in a prison.

The greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers have all passed through the fire…

Take comfort afflicted Christian!

When God is about to make preeminent use of a man, He puts him in the fire.”

~George MacDonald~

Scottish author and Christian Minister  (1824-1905).

Stasia is mother to six beautiful children and wife to a dedicated, loving husband.
They have served as a family together on the mission field on four continents for nearly 29 years. 
Stasia’s passion is to share in true colors the grace of God in her life. 
You can read more about her and the ministry of the Women’s Bible Cafe here.
Meet Missionary Mom and Ministry Leader Stasia Nielsen
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