In C.S Lewis’ series The Chronicles of Narnia, he writes about Aslan peeling a dragon’s skin off layer by layer. It is a painful process, but in the end, it strips him of his dragon layers that masked his true identity as a boy. More and more each day, the Lord peels off layers and chisels huge chunks off of me that do not conform to His likeness. I have put on the new self and it is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:10). It is a painful process, but I know it is good, necessary, and directed by God. It reminds me of the song “You Wont Relent” by Misty Edwards. God will not relent until He has all of us: our whole heart, our whole devotion, and our whole adoration. And this is in no way a selfish thing on His part. He created us and knows that our very purpose is for Him to be our all and all and for us to dwell and live in His relational presence. So as He calls us to lay more of our idols at His feet, and for Him to take the place at the throne of our heart, the more He is bringing us to the very center of who we are as His created beings. And once we discover this, we find that there is no greater and more satisfying place to dwell. Jesus promised that when we lose our lives for His sake, it is only then that we finally find it.
Despite some things not going the way I was expecting, He reminds me that I need to trust Him. He is the One with the ultimate plan. I may not understand His purpose in everything, but the Spirit brings to mind Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” He is so gracious to remind us of His promises. He reminds me of His steadfast love and compassion for His children. It is written that, “the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him…(Psalm 103:17)”, and He is a Father who has great compassion for His children (Psalm 103:13). As I look to the heavens he reminds me of three promises. First of all, the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19). Secondly, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him (Psalm 103:11).” And lastly His incomprehensible grace, for Scripture says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).” Each time I look to the heavens, I see how infinite, endless, and majestic they are, and that only means that God’s glory, love, and grace is infinite, everlasting, unending, and absolutely breathtaking… And you should see the sunrises here in the morning!!! I am blown away that the God of the Universe is infinitely greater than His creation.
As I continue to lay aside what I think things should be and instead, surrender, take up the cross, and am filled with His Spirit, He graces me with His wisdom and direction for today. He is my only source of power and strength, so daily I must abide in Him. When I try to figure out what today should bring and do things on my own terms, I find myself anxious and overwhelmed. But when I wake up each day and ask Him to lead me, He leads me. He works out the details. He desires that I relinquish control and yield to Him in faith. Even if following Him for today means restocking some cups or washing a counter, it is the work He has given me, and in Scripture it says whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. More and more each day, He slowly unravels what He wants me to do here. He continues to affirm and encourage me that, for today, I am right where He wants me. And there is just no better place to be than in the will of God.
More and more each day, my heart aches for this land. It is easy to believe that the grass is greener on the other side, but the reality is that we are all broken. Every land, every nation, and every tribe has been ravaged and destroyed by sin. The fall of man means that in every place there is greed, murder, envy, selfishness, anger, and every other sin. Apart from His grace, our hearts will always be far from Him. I see so much pain and suffering here, and at times it can be overwhelming. I realize that whoever we are, rich or poor, black or white, male or female, we are all in the same boat. We all are fallen, and sin has affected us in some shape or form and in different degrees. But every human has the same longings and desires. We all are completely unfulfilled by what this world has to offer, and we so desperately think that something in this world will finally satisfy us. But it simply cannot. I think a lot of the Dominicans believe they will find happiness if they have more money and possessions. But the reality is that wealth will never fulfill them. I am no better of a person for having possessions. My money, my possessions, or my skills will never fix them spiritually. We can give them as much food, as many crafts, as much money, but it will not fix the brokenness that is inside every human being. The real solution is Jesus Christ. He is the one that has ransomed us from our slavery. By the power of the cross, we are justified and freed from the control of sin. I am simply just as broken as the person next to me, but by God’s grace, I have been redeemed by a loving Savior.
The pain and emptiness I see around me makes me even more thankful for the hope we have in Christ. Not only has He shown His deep love for me as His child, but also His deep love for the whole world. As I look out and see the brokenness of this land, it only leads me to one question. Why does God allow this to happen? But He reminds me that He has already demonstrated His passionate and reckless love for the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because I have experienced the ways in which He loves me as His child, I am deeply aware that His love for this nation and these people is far greater than I could ever begin to comprehend. And because He has such a deep love for these people, He has developed a deep love for them within me.
Prayer requests:
1. Discernment, wisdom, clarity, compassion, humility, kindness, and joy for each day.
2. A surrendering, taking up of the cross, and filling of the Spirit each day.
3. Both the Dominicans and Americans would encounter God, receive Christ, seek Him wholeheartedly, and share the Good News with others so that the cycle keeps on going.
4. MGM and Whitefields would remain a unified body in Christ.
5. Communication within ministry and language barriers.
6. The Lord would bear much fruit through the updating of the website and newsletter that Whitefield’s will send out. Much fruit would be produced both in the DR and America through communicating all that God is doing in the DR (Which is A LOT).
Thank you all for your support and prayers. Truly, it has been so encouraging. More updates will be coming soon. I apologize for the delay in getting this post up!
You couldn't have expressed your experience and feelings better. Your commitment to listening to God no matter the circumstances is a testimony to your faith and His unfailing love for you. Thanks for the pictures too. What a process.
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