When we were serving in Indonesia, we met a mini missionary! She was tiny physically, 4’7” tall, but huge in heart. Not only was she very small, she was severely crippled by polio since childhood. What was a crippled, single woman doing in a remote, steeply mountainous stone age village? Against all odds, she started the translation of  Scripture into a complex tribal language no one had even written down before! She served for 18 years until her body sank into post-polio syndrome and she had to retire in the US. So many discouraging events like severe earthquakes killing hundreds and causing landslides that wiped out the food supply, tribal killings, depression, diseases sapping her strength, isolation, being without coworkers, the pressure of unending daily responsibilities including helping the sick, couseling, teaching, and writing. (Interesting side note:  the tribal people she served were also small in stature.)  She often worked to the breaking point. But she persevered. She gave ‘her’ tribe part of the Bible in their own language and she modeled what it means to endure and let God make you strong.

Ever feel like giving up? Ha! Who hasn’t?! When you’re disappointed, heartsick, and aching for what isn’t yet. When your prayers for healing, or for loved ones to come back to faith, or for justice to prevail seem to go unanswered, don’t give up. Don’t doubt God’s good intentions for you. Let God’s Word comfort you. Let the Holy Spirit put steel in your resolve to obey God, remain faithful, and not give up. Run into Jesus’ arms and let him comfort you. God’s ways are mysterious. That’s why he values faith. It isn’t easy to believe! We have to trust that things aren’t as they appear. We have to accept that mere human intelligence can’t grasp God’s ways. He operates counterintuitively. Brains or braun, power or money don’t bring about God’s will. He works his purposes in the spiritual realm far above human understanding. In his higher realm of power, the weak can be strong, the poor can be rich, the leaders can be servants, the blind can see, the crippled can jump, the sorrowful can find happiness, and those with little status can be great.

Trust in God’s goodness even when he doesn’t give you what you pleaded for. His purposes are for your good. He can see your future. He knows what you need to be the person he wants you to be and do the things he called you to do.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare [peace, security] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “ Jeremiah 29:11-14

Receive his provision for your continued faith journey in spite of disappointments.
“let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.. [Endurance can be translated perseverance, or patience]
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We get endurance by learning from Scripture how men and women of faith, especially Jesus, kept going. The examples and promises of Scripture give us hope so we’ll keep trusting with joy and peace.
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. . .the God who gives endurance and encouragement. Romans 15:4
[Endurance can be translated perseverance, or patience]
[Encouragement can be translated comfort, or consolation]
“Remember that Christ [Messiah] came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.'[2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49]
Again, it says,
‘Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.'[Deuteronomy 32:43]
And again, Isaiah says,
‘The Root of Jesse will spring up,
 one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.'[Isaiah 11:10]
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:4, 8-13

Hold tight when your heart is breaking in the dark. There will be a sunrise. Keep fighting. There will be a reward.
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things… I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,
To them I will give authority over all the nations.”  Jesus in Revelation 2:19, 24-26
“To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” Revelation 3:5

God’s hope puts happiness in our hearts so we can keep trusting and keep going!
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy [rejoicing, happiness, gladness] and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

PS. I just finished reading the memoirs of this missionary. https://redemption-press.com/product/running-on-broken-legs-my-journey-to-joy/
Here’s a 1 minute trailer: https://youtu.be/5ooDQsHvUmw
PPS. Here is a video of the rejoicing of the people as they get their translation of the New Testament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evMyOQ-vle8&t=9s

Please leave this field empty

Oh, hi there!👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive my blog in your inbox, every week.

First name

Email Address *

We don’t spam! Read our [link]privacy policy[/link] for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.