I believe
in hard work. As a girl who grew up in the United States, learning what it
takes to achieve the “American Dream,” that is not unique to me. Doesn’t it
seem like if you’re not busy, you’re not working hard enough?
But let
me tell you, busyness in the life of a missionary does not mean we are
accomplishing more by not having time to breathe. It is a fight to not give in
to burn-out. It is a challenge to live in the tension of wanting to work as
hard as we can, while at the same time having to disconnect and let people
accustom to our absence.
My worth
is not measured by what I do, how much I do, and what I accomplish. My worth is
discovered in what Jesus Christ has already done for me.
For that
reason, I can rest.
I can
breathe.
Because I
am not working to prove my love for him; I am working just because he loved me
first.
And he
gave me the privilege of entering in to his rest.
Hebrews
4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a
Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests
from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every
effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following their example
of disobedience.”
For
people who find themselves in vocational ministry, it is always tricky to know
when to rest. After all, we have to work on Sundays. But there is a Sabbath rest for us. However, we must “make
every effort” to enter into it. “Wait a second, we have to work hard in order
to rest? That seems a little wrong.”
It is
WORK to let go. It is WORK to surrender. But we encounter rest when we do.
That’s the promise.
Right
now, we have begun the process of handing over the ministry in Cusco to our
leaders who will be staying, namely our pastor. I want to tell you, THIS IS NOT
EASY. But I have experienced the peace that comes with surrender. I do not know
what is going to happen when I leave Cusco. But it is out of my hands, it is in
God’s hands, and I have peace about that.
So I will
rest. I will not sleep more, but I will find shelter in him. I will not work
less, but I will make every effort to enter into His rest.
And I
will let go. He will carry my burdens. I will take on his yoke.
And then
comes the rest.
