Persevere

          Sorry I haven't written in a while. Life has been crazy. I've been sick this week, and last week the kids were off school so we didn't have youth groups. The weekend before that, I went to Scotland with some of the other Gap Yearers. We made the long drive to northern Scotland in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights, but the clouds covered our view. It was still a fun trip though! 

Here's our video from the trip:

In Scotland waiting for Northern Lights

     These past few weeks have been difficult regarding youth groups and church ministry. I feel like it's been a one-step-forward-two-steps-back kind of deal. After my last blog "Truth" I've noticed so many more issues with the church and its leaders that no one is ready to address, much less fix. Besides the lack of community in the faith family, (which I wrote about early on) many of the church leaders have admitted that they don't spend time in the Word of God during the week. I'm sure this comes from the fact that they are uncertain of the Bible's absolute authority. And it makes sense, if they don't believe the Bible is true or can be trusted, why would they read it? So the problems arise because they are relying on their own opinions. Bible studies (we started a Lent course) are filled with discussion about our opinions on popular issues, not rooted in Biblical truth. Life choices are based on justifying what they think should be right, bending the rules. And because of this, there's no urgency or priority placed on ministry. No one wants to "offend" anyone with their beliefs so they just keep quiet, or talk about "safe" issues. I've been super discouraged lately, feeling like I'm getting no where.

    
      So I read Luke 18:1-8. "One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show them that they should always pray and never give up" (verse 1). He goes on to tell the story of the persistent widow who gets justice for her cause, even though she goes to the judge who neither "fears God or loves people." Her faith and persistence compelled even a self-proclaimed pagan to do the right thing. God's sovereignty and control isn't reliant on the people who are involved. Our job is to trust and obey. Such an encouragement to continue! 

     But then I read through the book of Acts. Paul and other believers preach God's gift of Jesus to everyone. But many, including God's people the Jews, reject it. So Paul, unwavering, "shakes the dust off his feet as a sign of rejection," and leaves (Acts 13:51). Even in the gospels, Jesus instructs his followers to do this as well. 

Gap Yearers in Scotland in front of Edinburgh Castle

     In Acts 16, the Holy Spirit actually prevents Paul and Silas from preaching the Word in certain towns, in order to guide them to areas that are begging and pleading for the truth. Acts 28 quotes Isaiah by saying that 

"the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see and their ears cannot hear and their hearts cannon understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them" (verse 27). 

     So my question is, when do you persevere and when do you shake the dust off and leave? I think about William Carey and other missionaries who have stayed in a location for over 7 or 8 years before they saw one convert. And even if you don't experience extreme persecution or rejection - just a lack of interest and hardened hearts - how long do you stick with it before shaking the dust off and leaving for places where hearts are ready? 

     When I think about the countless people who still haven't heard of Jesus or experienced His story of sacrifice and love, I struggle to have motivation to remain in a town of hardened hearts. I know God has brought me here for "such a time as this" and I pray that I can be as persistant as the widow in the parable. So I ask that you pray for me to have joy and strength to continue serving where I am while God has me here. And I ask that you pray for direction for where God would have me serve in the future. I'm excited about the possibilities to again step out of my comfort zone and share His story!