Did God Really Say...

Originally published on January 24, 2014

The Ethiopia/Uganda Chronicles
Chapter Four - The Doubt

Ethiopian boy chasing the team van.  
photography by Anthony Kaetzel


It was November.  A Saturday.  We were scheduled to get our immunizations for Ethiopia and Uganda later that morning.

He came down the stairs and he was upset.  He told us that he just realized he would be missing a couple of competitions in February when we were in Africa.  He was beside himself.  These were competitions that he had been preparing for... one for almost a year.

He wondered to us if he was really supposed to go to Ethiopia and Uganda.  He didn't feel called.  Perhaps God had spoken to us about it, but God had not spoken to him.  He was frustrated.

His father calmly asked him to find out the dates of the competition to be certain that they were conflicting with our trip to Africa.  He went upstairs.  He went to his room.  He shut his door.

And as a mother I wondered... Did God really say Christopher was to go to Ethiopia?  I cried as I thought of the sacrifice we were asking him to make.  Perhaps he could stay home.  Perhaps I was being selfish and wanting him to go with us for the wrong reasons.  He was right.  God had spoken to us as parents, but not to him.  Perhaps I should intervene and we could always change our minds.  I could fix this.

I walked down the stairs full of emotion.  Wanting to take away the pain.

But there he sat.  Calm.  Composed.  Resolute.  Talking with his dad.  He explained to me that he had felt prompted to read the second chapter of the book of James in the Bible.  And when he read James 2:14-17,  he knew what he had to do.  He knew his faith needed action.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:14-17

And that was it.  He was changed.  God had spoke.  He listened.  That was that.

And I was dumbfounded at the thought that I almost saved him from it.  Saved him from hearing from the Lord.  From the opportunity to press into what seemed important to him to what seemed important to God.  I almost protected him from something that would change his life forever.

But God intervened.  God took care of it.  And He will.  He will always take care of it. 
Thank you, God.






For more of my thoughts on my trip to Ethiopia and Uganda visit here. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All I Want is for My Daughter to be Whole
and off those Antidepressants...

Image
In Honor of World Mental Health Day - It’s time to talk about it. Here is a post I wrote on July of 2009. "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32 NIV I had never met her before. I had joined my mother for a luncheon and I just happened to sit next to her. A godly woman... perhaps almost 70 years old... well-put together. She explained to me that her daughter was dealing with depression. And then she boldly exclaimed, "All I want is for my daughter to be whole and off those antidepressants!" My eyes widened. My throat got tight. My heart hurt. And immediately I began the self-talk. If you're going through the study Me, Myself & Lies, you know what I'm talking about... the talk that goes on in our head... often destructive in nature. And if not properly taken captive can tempt me to destroy everything that God has instilled in me. And
Read more

The Distinction Between "Lead" and "Leader"

Image
Quote From:  The Polar Express  Hero Girl: It says "lead." Like "lead balloon."  Conductor: I believe it also is pronounced "lead." As in "leader," "leadership." "Lead the way." Follow you anywhere, ma'am. I want to make the distinction obvious between the fact that I chose the word "Lead" and did not choose the word "Leader" as my One Word for 2013.   I am not in the process of learning how to work my way into a position of leadership.  That does not appeal to me.  What I am learning is how to lead those who "follow" me.  Those who are watching me or my family.  How we do life.  Those I am mentoring or discipling or teaching.  Those who come along for a brief moment in time and ask for insight, prayer, acceptance and/or discernment or those who join us for the long haul in this thing called life. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes.  A majority of the time... it just happens.
Read more

You Have Stayed Long Enough At This Mountain

Image
  "...You have stayed long enough at this mountain."   Deuteronomy 1:6  I love words.  Especially words of affirmation.  Well, let’s get real - POSITIVE words of affirmation.  Who doesn’t?  But there was a time in my life that affirmation was like an addiction to me.  When I was younger, I would find affirmation wherever I could.  I just wanted to be noticed. It became addictive.  The Lord helped me to see that some of the ways were destructive.  And most were not fulfilling and definitely not long-lasting. So, I began to find ways to fill my need for affirmation that were constructive.  Positive friendships.  Trying to change my expectations.  Affirming myself.  And yet, it wasn't enough.  There would always be one or two people who I felt should affirm me, but didn't... and I would be crushed. I came to a crossroads.  As I began mentoring other women, the topic of affirmation would come up.  And I was stuck.  I couldn't help them.  I couldn't hel
Read more