Why?

I’ve often wondered if my life is adventurous and crazy, cause it just seems so normal to me. To some people it may seem totally crazy to go to hard countries where there is little money and basically no convenience. However, to me, it’s totally normal, which I guess it would be after traveling 4 times to Africa. I love adventure, but I’m not very adventurous. There was this time in Kenya when my friend, Hillary, and I went up a mountain on motorbikes (we had drivers, we weren’t driving) then we caught a public transit car to finish the trek up the mountain. Then we have to find a bus to go down the mountain. We did all of this just for some pizza and weird tasting milkshakes. I never would’ve done that on my own, but man, I have a fun story now. There’s some things I will not try, and one of those is canoes going down a river filled with hippos. No thanks! I’m not the biggest fan of water adventures. I’ll do land adventures though. Anyways, why in the world would I go to Africa 4 times, and then, the real question: why would I ever move to Africa?! Well, to answer this question, let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time, there was this person who decided to create a whole universe. He made a planet that had the perfect atmosphere for an especially special creation of His, humans. These humans got to live in the His presence and walk with Him and talk with Him, but then, one day, the humans decided that they were smarter and wiser than this person, they let pride win, and they disobeyed Him. Ever since that day, humans have known grief, pain, suffering, and separation from this person. This person loved His creation so much that over 2000 years ago, He sent His only Son to die for His creation so that they could be reunited with Him. If you haven’t guessed, this person is God, and the humans are Adam and Eve and all of us. If God sent His only Son for you and I, as a sacrifice to cover our sins, then why shouldn’t we be willing to give up everything to serve this God who loves us so much? Why would I even consider moving to Africa? Because God sacrificed His Son for me.

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 says, “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’, but in Him it is always ‘Yes’. For all the promises of God find their ‘Yes’ in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory.” Jesus said, “Yes” to God’s command, so will I. It is not and will not be easy, but I don’t want easy, I want growth in understanding God and dependence on Him. He chose me to go, and I will go, all to glorify Him. I don’t say any of this to try to sound better than you, I am just like you. I am a sinner saved by grace. I struggle, it’s hard to trust Him, but I will continue to trust Him, because with Him “I could lose everything and still consider it gain” (If by Beautiful Eulogy). I don’t do any of this for myself, but to glorify Him and to know Him more and to tell others about who He is and what He’s done for them. What completely baffles me is that the more we get to know God, the more we find that we don’t know. He is endless and we will never fully understand Him, but getting to know Him more is absolutely amazing and yet, so humbling. I will trust Him through it all because He is the God who gave everything for me. He’s always known exactly what’s happening and He planned it all out before He created the world. Why would I go? Because God told me to, and I will obey. I will not say, ‘no’ but rather, I will say, ‘yes’, because who am I to ever tell God ‘no’?!

I leave you with the words to a song that I pray almost daily because they are the words of my heart. Here are the words of Lord, I Trust You by Selah.

It may not seem I have what it will take

I fear that in the face of trial I’ll break

Any troubles just a day way

Lord, I trust you

The best, the worst of days is yet to come

I’ll glorify regardless of the cost

I’ll magnify whether joy or loss

Lord, I trust you

Lord, you are life inside the fire

Lord, you are the grace that rises higher

Oh there will never be a day that you are not with me

Oh Lord, I trust you

Lord, you are life inside the fire

Lord, you are the grace that rises higher

Oh there will never be a day that you are not with me

Oh Lord, I trust you

I believe but help my unbelief

Help me go wherever you lead

Do with me whatever you will please

Lord, I trust you

Lord, you are life inside the fire

Lord, you are the grace that rises higher

Oh there will never be a day that you are not with me

Oh Lord, I trust you

I can’t find the strength to pray

All seems lost and it’s too late, Oh

Cannot fear what comes my way

Find me faithful in the day

Cause the only hope I have is you will be enough

Lord, you are life inside the fire

Lord, you are the grace that rises higher

Oh there will never be a day that you are not with me

Oh Lord, I trust you