Growth Doesn't Come From Comfort

Hey there readers!

So sorry I haven’t written in a while.  My team started all of our ministries about 3 weeks ago, and that, coupled with Spanish classes at the University of Central America, equals a very very hectic schedule.  I was also trying to switch my blog over to a wordpress account, because their designs are much better than here at blogspot.  But when I created a new account, it was all in Spanish.. which makes things quite difficult for me.  So I might be transitioning to wordpress soon, but if I do, I'll let y'all know where to find me. 

But anyways, back to life in El Salvador.  I’ve lived here for a little over a month now.  And I’m going to be honest, these past couple of weeks have been tough.  It’s started to set in that I won’t be at home with all of my American comforts, such as, a dryer, AC, loved ones, and privacy for another 7 months.  I’ve started longing for my family so much that I dream of them at night.  I miss watching TLC shows and eating ice cream with my mom.  I miss driving my little brother to church and hearing about what he’s reading in the bible.  I miss talking to my dad about my dreams for the future.  This is hard.  This is so hard.  I miss my home.

But every time I think I can’t bear the heartache any longer, the Lord reminds me of His sovereignty.  He reminds me of how He provided all I needed and more to get here.  He reminds me of how He gripped my heart for missions in a way that I couldn’t explain.  He reminds me of the people He put in my life to point me to this program. All in all, He reminds me that He has called me here, to El Salvador, and that He is going to use this time to stretch my faith and deepen my dependency on Him.

He has stripped me of everything I’ve known.  He has made me empty.  I read earlier this week that we cannot learn to eat if we are never hungry.  And I firmly believe that that’s what the Lord is doing.  He’s taking away everything that I used to nibble on, that would spoil my appetite for Him.  He is starving me so I can truly feast on His presence and word.  Oh what a wonderful, painful, confusing thing!

I’m not going to pretend that I’ve handled this with a constant spirit of grace and dignity.  Some mornings when I wake up at 5 and have to jump in a freezing cold shower (because hot water is a luxury here), I think to myself “okay, I’m finished growing. I’m ready to go back to America, to my hot water.”  But praise God, that’s not an option.

I’ve been memorizing James and the Lord continually brings to mind James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

As hard as it is being here, I know that it is essential to my sanctification (sanctify means to purify or make holy).  The Lord is using each of these trials to chisel away my flesh, so that I can become holy and Christlike.  So praise God for my insane schedule, cold showers, smelly clothes, and this crazy country.  These are His tools that He is using to make me more like Him.  

And reader, you don't have to be in El Salvador to grow.  Every trial you face is an oppurtunity for you to become more holy.  I don't know what you are going through right now, but please remember that times of growth don't come from being comfortable.   Our faith is stretched the most when things get hard.  For instance, when a child begins to walk, it's not easy for them.  They are continually tripping over their little feet and falling.  But if they were to just plop down on their bottoms and refuse to walk, because it's tough, that's how they would remain: sitting, complacent, never growing.  Friend, trials are essential for a follower of Christ.  So please don't run away when meet one.  Press into Jesus.  Dig into the word and allow Him to shape you.