She loved that place! It had been her safe sanctuary summer after summer following undisclosed abuse that had driven her to the streets. For years, her goal had been to direct the girls and point them to the Saviour . . . the only hope of rescue in a world that made no sense. God had granted her heart’s desire, and for several years, she had the thrill of pointing young women to Christ.
Suddenly, her dreams were shattered—taken away as she was “let go” by the very place she loved. Where was the Father? Why would He give and then take back the one ministry she felt called to do? Devastation and numbness set in. What now?
Good question . . . any of you ever been in that place?
In an interview with Suzan Braun in just between us magazine (Summer 2008, page 17) Hilary Price, wife of pastor Charles Price, says: "Once I was in a depression—a wilderness. Charles encouraged me to keep doing the basics and then one day there it was—a word for me. ‘There is a highway in the desert.’ . . . The Word penetrated my situation and reminded me Christ is the highway and He is IN the desert with us . . . . It is a discipline to be still and know that He is God. It does not yield immediate results.”
What an encouragement that two thousand years ago, God did the same thing for Paul and Silas, and “relocated” their “Judea” (Acts 15 and 16). Imagine . . . apostles arguing over protegees, and yet that is what had happened, causing Paul, Silas and Barnabas to part company!
Paul and Silas were led to young Timothy and continued on their journey. Headed to Asia, they were forbidden by God to preach there . . . wrong Judea, apparently. Next on the list was Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them there . . . wrong Judea again. Wouldn’t you and I be asking the question “OK Lord. So where exactly DO you want me to share your Word?” Paul did, and God’s answer was the vision of a Macedonian man beckoning, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
So they did, and for their trouble, they were beaten and thrown in jail. What now? Like Hilary, they kept doing the basics . . . singing and praying to God at midnight. It must have been some singing, to cause an earthquake! The poor jailer figured all the prisoners were gone and he was doomed, but Paul kept everyone there and as a result, led the jailer and his family to faith in Christ!
Who would have thought that Paul’s next “Judea” would be a prison?
God’s “Judea” is usually out of our comfort zone. Living the mission among our friends is one thing, but going across town, to a place we’ve never been, to people we don’t know, in situations we don’t trust, making ourselves vulnerable to pain?
• Jill Briscoe says, “ . . . I learned the life message that the basis of all spiritual strength is helplessness and dependence, and so God (waits) for me to come to ‘wit’s end corner’ and throw myself on Him . . . When God is busy in your life, the service flows out naturally.” Sounds like Paul and Silas.
• Like Paul, ask God where He wants you to live out your faith . . . and then read the Word and listen for the answer.
• Like Paul, expect to be surprised by joy in the most unlikely place.
• Share your missional faith story with us!
Transplanted - to grow, to serve, to nurture, to better use her gifts and her past. The painful experience of losing the place her heart loved most resulted in serving in a new Judea. Today she cares for lost and hurting youth in a small city, loving them into the kingdom.
