Photo by Simon English on Unsplash
Most of you who are familiar with my previous updates may be aware of the situations I face as I serve in Asia as a missionary scholar. On top of all I have shared I have those at home whom I cannot be with as I am overseas on the mission field. My brother lost his wife recently and has been trying to cope with raising two young sons since. My parents’ health has declined significantly with only apologies coming from the medical professionals after repeated trips to the ER and many procedures.
Additionally, I have just come to know of family members who are seeing to their grandchildren after the children’s parents were murdered in cold blood during a robbery. I also have an uncle and family in need of prayers as his complications have him in a very critical condition. There’s no way of knowing if he will survive much longer. In light of all these various afflictions, I have come to renew myself in an illustration I have used for many years in ministry to help encourage myself. Maybe it could inspire others as well.
Trekking Mountains and Challenges of Asia
For many years, I have trekked the mountains of Asia. Each time, I bring way too much! (Too many creature comforts! Lol!) So much so, my wife lets me pack and then unpacks my bag only to see what all I plan on taking to cull out much that is not required. A hefty load makes one weary traveler. On one such trip, I injured myself by falling in the spring rains five times coming down from one of the highest peaks between Nepal and India and seriously hurt my knee. Often, though, for the task at hand, one must take quite a bit to meet the journey’s proper end.
We are commanded in 1 Peter 5:7, quoting Psalm 55:22, to cast our worries upon the Lord for he cares for us. I used to see myself traveling the mountains with a rather large backpack stuffed quite full. One day I couldn’t handle it anymore. I was about to give up.
…With the Lord
Then I understood if I were in the hands of God, why would I lug the load at all? I should let him transport both me and the weight, but it no longer needed to be mounted on my shoulders as he ferries me as his payload. It could sit right beside me as he bore me. When I needed to deal with something in the bag, it was handy, but I did not have to haul the brunt of its full weight any longer on my own back while he held me in his hand. He could just as efficiently manage both and give me a break I needed to catch my breath. I needed to save my strength for what lay ahead.
I could trust in God to hoist it and me to where both needed to go, and I only had to pull out and deal with one item at a time as required at the moment which necessitated it! I may be responsible for the contents, but I do not have to lift them all as my burden at the same time. Instead, I need to surrender them all to Jesus while I merely rest in his loving care. When required, he and I can tackle each item as it presents itself along the trek. I only need to address them in the order he sees best and utilize the proper means to deal with each one in its own timing and terms and not let the rest distract me from what was presently required.
I do not have to consume my strength in worrying about what now is in his hands and out of my reach in the bottom of the rucksack that is for a latter part of the current expedition. I can take it easy and gently allow him to help me with the items that come first out of the pack—each one in its own timing as he permits. I can focus on what’s now and next and not something out of my hands that can wait subsequently when its actual attention is merited. It should not rob me of what is needed currently.
What I do not have to do is rely on my own strength to carry it all at once alone for he totes me. I rest in his to get me where I need to go and then to do as he bids me one day at a time and one item at a time without digging into anything that remains in the bottom. After each is put in its place, the pack becomes smaller and lighter. This makes room for me to be then able to gather his blessings along the path to replace the former burdens.
These blessings I can then bestow upon others as I make my way to reach the goal for which I am commissioned. Often, I am given sweets here in one form or another. I am not fond of sweets. Some have taken offense and even stopped giving me any because of my apparent disdain.
What I do, though, is collect them so that when I come across someone, I have something with which to bless them. Often, I do not have much. Most of the time in Asia there is very little I have in hand to dole out. Thus, when I am given a sweet, I savor it by saving it and then when given a chance I can give that gift to someone who would much better enjoy it. I receive kindly the benefit only in hopes of passing it on to those who truly would be blessed by such a pleasure.
As I serve here considering all I have reported to you, I leave it all in the Lord’s hand. In whatever ways he chooses to bless my family and myself, we are very grateful. I am learning to pack my own trash out and put it in its respective place rather than leaving my mess for others. I have my wife who assists me greatly in helping me lay down what I need not bear.
Comfort or Thorns?
Many creature comforts only end up being thorns to prevent me from a successful course. It is best to leave them behind! Jesus commanded his disciples to travel light. Our cross often is enough to bear as life gets quite challenging to carry much else as distractions to his intended target.
Eastwood is famous in his dialogue, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” I cannot carry the world. It is not my job. My job is to do as much as I can while affording others to do theirs—including God, his!
Perhaps, this illustration will somehow be meaningful to you in your current journey! We may try to be good boy scouts and prepared for much life throws at us. Then again, we may find ourselves in the humble position of trusting in others to be led by God to providentially provide that which we lack to continue according to his divine will and not our own plans. In Galatians 6, bearing one another’s burdens fulfills the law of Christ.
We all need each other. Many have born my burdens. I am very thankful for them as I am trying my level best to do the same according to each one’s giftings. Thank you for being a part of what we are called to do in Asia to help the people here. Because of you, I can be God’s light in a dark place where few have tasted and seen the goodness of our God!