This is what faith looks like.
My sister, her husband, and their two young children leaving home and family, jobs and church, comfortable and familiar…
just because God said so.
Crossing an ocean to minister in a foreign land to foreign people…
just because God called them.
Sure, they considered their budget.
But their decision was made before the finances were in place.
They considered their schedules.
But their path was chosen before their calendars agreed.
They considered the sacrifices.
The ones they were making.
And the ones they were asking others to make.
Parents who need them.
Siblings who love them.
Nieces and nephews who like them.
Friends who enjoy them.
Employers who depend on them.
A church family who is blessed by them.
But none of those sacrifices dictated the decision.
They considered their circumstances.
But then considered God greater.
Because for the Christian who’s a true Christ-follower, it always comes back to that.
This is what faith looks like.
Two moms (and two dads not pictured) looking on, already missing the dearly loved faces they’ve adored for thirty-plus years, entrusting them to the One they adore even more.
Parents who know in the very depths of their souls that in spite of the pain of saying goodbye, there’s nothing better in life than to see their children walking in truth (3 John 4), following hard after the God who followed hard after them first.
Parents who might really like to tether them close to home and beg them not to go…
but instead choose to release them (again) to the One they really belong to.
Moms and dads who have prayed for a lifetime…
and who won’t stop now.
All of these – my sister and brother-in-law, my nephew and niece, and their parents and family and friends and church family and all those who have supported them by faith – are following in Abraham’s footsteps, demonstrating the kind of faith God values.
The kind that looks around, eyes wide open…
not ignoring the circumstances or blind to them, but staring them in the face. Considering them.
The kind of faith that, having calculated the hurdles, then looks up to the unseen One who’s greater than anything their eyes can see.
“[Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body…
or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God,
but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.”
Romans 4:19-22
And off they go.
You are loved, dear ones, and you’ll be missed.
But we wouldn’t have it any other way.
You’ve given us a priceless gift.
Thank you for showing us what faith looks like.
It’s always much better to see faith in action than merely read about it. What a brave and God-trusting family they are. Prayers for their safety and their impact for Christ and His kingdom!
Thank you for praying for them, Elizabeth. That means so much to me! I appreciate their example of real-life faith, and I’m glad it encouraged you, too.
Jennifer, this is so beautiful. And yes, I cried with you & am praying with you. Our church family just said good-bye to a family, who is called to minister in Africa. It was hard saying good-bye. It was hard watching their good-bye videos, but its SO refreshing to see faith in action.
May we live worthy of being called whether we are being sent or called to help send. Beautiful post, friend!
Thank you for reading, friend, and for your encouragement. It IS hard to say goodbye; but at the same time, I wouldn’t have them anywhere other than right where they are, at the center of God’s will and participating in His work.