This morning I was reading the stories of Hezekiah found in Isaiah 36-40. The Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sends an envoy to yell at the people of Jerusalem. The argument is pretty straightforward: The gods of the other countries did not show up when their people prayed. Neither will yours. Give up now.
Throughout this mission trip, I have constantly struggled with two fears, specific and general:
In general , there’s the anxiety that comes with traveling, foreign places, spiritual warfare, sickness, and struggling to know how to make the best of our short time in each place.
Specifically, there is the fear of returning. Before I left San Antonio, I was out of work for four months. I couldn’t get a job flipping burgers. In a few days, I’ll be returning to Texas where I’ll be couch surfing until I can find a work in Austin, and start my life over once again. This is what keeps me awake at night.
The Assyrian army wakes up to find eighty-five thousand soldiers dead in their sleep. Sennacherib’s words of psychological warfare rang hollow. God provided just what they needed, when they needed it.
As I return to the States, and set out to build a new life and ministry in Austin, I have no choice that God will do the same for me.
Interestingly, it’s on the next page where you’ll find God’s response to people like me who often doubt his ability to provide:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Tweets