- Jan 16, 2019
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I attended a missionary preparation program through the church. It was meant to help participants discern if they’re called to be missionaries and provide emotional support through the process.
It is a difficult life and more challenging than most expect. Finances are the greatest hardship. We were a sending church and provided support for missionaries but they still required sponsorship from others. If you don’t enter with sizable resources or have reliable people who’ll provide a steady stream of income it can be brutal.
Some find local employment or pursue other means of earning. Those in closed countries have a harder time. Dating on the mission field is incredibly hard. We were fortunate to have monthly reports from missionaries home on furlough. They provided realistic snapshots of life in the field.
I’ve supported missionaries in the past. They frequently endured financial hardships and were in need of extra help. The letters were informative. It was wonderful to see God working through them to reach others.
But the frequent instability can take a toll. Not to mention the isolation and loneliness. It is probable someone seeking a companion will focus most on pressing needs. We all do that in our own way.
I don’t think its always due to greed or the negative things we suspect of others. Oftentimes our desire for security reveals itself in unexpected ways. And the things we’ve attached to that feeling are influenced by factors which have nothing to do with the other person.
When we encounter their sentiments and feel rebuffed, disheartened, or angered. We’re responding to what was said. But are we listening to what’s behind the message? What are they really communicating to us through their brokenness?
A fixation on financial comfort may really be a fear of lack or reflect a time of dire need. The individual who rails against resources is saying the same in a different way. They’re articulating the pain of need and a want for stability in its place.
If we stop with what is said we’ll miss the real message from the heart. It doesn’t always reveal itself as candidly as we believe. When I think of the times I’ve neglected to hear. I chose to listen to the surface and failed to probe deeper. I realize I’ve missed opportunities for love, service, and greater bonding.
Healthy relationships require us to suspend our preconceptions and knee jerk reactions. If we’re honest about our offenses we’ll recognize we’ve done the same more times than we can count.
Who can say they’ve never been greedy, selfish, or short-tempered? Isn’t it strange we become upset when others do the same? I am learning to acknowledge my dislike of negative experiences to the Lord. But I follow the admission with an honest question, “Have I done the same to someone else?”
Without fail He brings to my remembrance my mistakes and failures. Reconciling them is my goal. Its hard to be loving if we’re unwilling to see beyond others’ imperfections. And harder to administer grace if we give it grudgingly.
I’m beginning to realize that bother is more about my growth in Him than their offense. Each instance provides an opportunity for introspection and greater humility. And that pleases Him.
It is a difficult life and more challenging than most expect. Finances are the greatest hardship. We were a sending church and provided support for missionaries but they still required sponsorship from others. If you don’t enter with sizable resources or have reliable people who’ll provide a steady stream of income it can be brutal.
Some find local employment or pursue other means of earning. Those in closed countries have a harder time. Dating on the mission field is incredibly hard. We were fortunate to have monthly reports from missionaries home on furlough. They provided realistic snapshots of life in the field.
I’ve supported missionaries in the past. They frequently endured financial hardships and were in need of extra help. The letters were informative. It was wonderful to see God working through them to reach others.
But the frequent instability can take a toll. Not to mention the isolation and loneliness. It is probable someone seeking a companion will focus most on pressing needs. We all do that in our own way.
I don’t think its always due to greed or the negative things we suspect of others. Oftentimes our desire for security reveals itself in unexpected ways. And the things we’ve attached to that feeling are influenced by factors which have nothing to do with the other person.
When we encounter their sentiments and feel rebuffed, disheartened, or angered. We’re responding to what was said. But are we listening to what’s behind the message? What are they really communicating to us through their brokenness?
A fixation on financial comfort may really be a fear of lack or reflect a time of dire need. The individual who rails against resources is saying the same in a different way. They’re articulating the pain of need and a want for stability in its place.
If we stop with what is said we’ll miss the real message from the heart. It doesn’t always reveal itself as candidly as we believe. When I think of the times I’ve neglected to hear. I chose to listen to the surface and failed to probe deeper. I realize I’ve missed opportunities for love, service, and greater bonding.
Healthy relationships require us to suspend our preconceptions and knee jerk reactions. If we’re honest about our offenses we’ll recognize we’ve done the same more times than we can count.
Who can say they’ve never been greedy, selfish, or short-tempered? Isn’t it strange we become upset when others do the same? I am learning to acknowledge my dislike of negative experiences to the Lord. But I follow the admission with an honest question, “Have I done the same to someone else?”
Without fail He brings to my remembrance my mistakes and failures. Reconciling them is my goal. Its hard to be loving if we’re unwilling to see beyond others’ imperfections. And harder to administer grace if we give it grudgingly.
I’m beginning to realize that bother is more about my growth in Him than their offense. Each instance provides an opportunity for introspection and greater humility. And that pleases Him.
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