A Pep Talk for Those who Go

A Pep Talk For Those Who Go

You know what I feel like we all need about right now?

A PEP TALK.

(If you don’t see the video, click here.)

Let’s just break it down.

The road less traveled HURTS.

All you’ve given up? All you’ve sacrificed? All those armies of ants you’re fighting in your kitchen right now?

It hurts.

And after a day of hurt followed by a day of hurt followed by a term or three of hurt, we get TIRED.

BURNED OUT.

DISENCHANTED.

HOPELESS.
.
.
.
.
.
But do you remember when you first encountered extreme poverty? Political oppression? Spiritual darkness?

Do you remember that fire? Do you remember the way you felt when the Father first tugged at you to serve him in another culture?

Do you remember reading Isaiah 6:8 and you said, “Here I am! Send me!”

GO BACK THERE. Feel those feelings. Bring back those memories.

You, on your first trip overseas.
You, telling your family for the first time that you were called to Kingdom work abroad.
You…believing and hoping and praying for massive miracles to fall from above.

I have to take myself back there often. I lose sight of the glory set before me. I don’t always believe the Father is going to do great things among my people group.

I get disheartened. I desire earthly comforts. I mourn all the things that I’ve lost.

And it’s okay. You can go there, too.

But bring yourself back. Back to the beginning. Back to the doe-eyed girl who believed she could change the world.

THAT PERSON IS STILL YOU. 

And you’re doing it. You’re changing the world.

When you wipe up your kids’ messes, you’re changing the world.
When you brave a team meeting as a single gal, you’re changing the world.
When you drive a motorbike in any foreign city, for goodness sake. You’re changing the world.

You’re doing it! You’re living and breathing the mission before us.

AND WE NEED YOU IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO DO THIS TOGETHER. 

If you’re just embarking on your journey, GO! Go get ‘em out there. Tackle that language and buy all the weird foods on the street. Fall in love like mad with your new home overseas.

If you’ve been on your journey for quite a while, you too—GO! Pull up those bootstraps and make up your bed. Open your front door to greet your foreign home with optimism, KNOWING that your God? He cares deeply for you and everybody else in the village where you live.

God is going to do some big things through you as you serve him abroad. But he’s going to do a million small things through you, too.

Embrace the small. Praise Him for the big.

And anything in the middle? When you’re not sure anything is really happening in your work? EXHALE.

Your heart is being pruned and led by the Spirit. You’re becoming more like Christ. And that is the most important mission any of us are on.

Take courage as you go, my Sister. And consider yourself pep-talked.

~~~
Where have you been forgetting to remember the passion you had when you were first called?
In what ways do you sense God calling you go?

6 Comments

  1. Dorette August 7, 2016

    Thank you for this reminder 😉 I sure needed the pep-talk.

  2. Amy August 7, 2016

    Oh I needed this pep talk, smack upside the head…whatever you’d like to call it. The 15 year old girl that was called and said “YES!” and the almost 36 year old woman who has said ‘YES..but ….” need to meet and be reacquainted. So much life happens in 20 years. Much good…much sweet, but some bad and some painful. I know my heart is still for the nations and for sharing the glory of God by wiping my kids noses, loving my neighbors and learning to speak a language that I can’t even fathom how to learn. I think over the next months I will re-read this often!! THANK YOU!!

  3. Nancy August 8, 2016

    I love the encouragement in knowing that He will do a million small things through us. I’ve been at this overseas stuff for 25 years. I’ve never done many big things but I have done a million small ones and you know what? That’s great! The other day I was at a gathering where nationals were sharing. As I listened, I thought, “I had a part in that” and “I was there when you went through that.” And it felt good. Although I am not always named as the one who walked beside a national, I know and God knows and that is great news. That’s what I am here for. To lift others up and bring Him glory. Thanks for your words.

  4. Monica F August 8, 2016

    Beautiful reminder! Made me smile and brought a tear to my eye! I definitely remember all those “I’ll go” moments, and they are still so strong in my heart, even though the road has had it’s twists and turns along the way! At this point in my life, I’m definitely learning to embrace the small- I appreciate your comments about that.

  5. Maddie L August 15, 2016

    It’s as if God just used you to speak right to me! I read this with streams of tears down my face. I am raising support for a few months while preparing to move to Thailand for two years, this definitely resonates with me. A huge reminder to have those I love speaking these truths to me when it is easy to lose sight of the vision behind what we have stepped out in faith to do. Thank you for sharing and being an encouragement!

  6. Alyson Rockhold June 14, 2020

    This is so encouraging! Thank you!

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