This was the last day of our mission trip to Guatemala. We were able to see hundreds at various medical clinics, worship with locals, scout out a potential church building, and we even had the favor of the local mayor in one of the cities who told us “you can do whatever you want in this city.”
With all of our excitement and experiencing God do a wonderful work through us and being able to see indescribable things there is still the desire to come home. Our team having seen suffering children and extreme poverty want to hold their loved ones in their arms and to be “home.”
Change of plans are a common occurrence on the mission field, but when you cross the line into domestic USA we want consistency, rhythm returned, and life to go back to normal. Knowing that you are forever changed by what you have experienced you still clamor for a return to normalcy.
Then comes the hiccup in the plans. As our team is pulling out of the airport, literally twenty-five fee, the bus breaks down. After hours of trying to fix it, we were shoved toward the indignant “plan B.” oh, how I hate “plan B.” It means something in my plan failed. We were delayed for hours, even more money must be spent on van rentals to get the team back, and an exhausted team now must endure even more travel.
What could possibly by good about “plan B” and why would God make us go through it? Didn’t we prayerfully plan, and systematically budget? Didn’t we work hard on the mission field?
When you find yourself in “plan B” try to remember and consider the following;
1. God can do whatever He wishes, He is God and we are the humans. The sovereign omnipotent One owes us no explanation for how He runs His creation.
2. God is love. His very essence is one of love and compassion. So, when you feel the pinch of inconvenience know that God is loving doing something. Trust Him and His Love. Have faith that this is for His glory.
3. It may not be about you. Our minds tend to drift toward thoughts like, “we were protected from some accident” or “He is helping us to have more patience,” etc. But it may just be that God is moving us along a different “route” in order to use us as an instrument in His hand. Don’t constantly look for reasons, instead lean into Christ and trust Him. Smile.
