Hello Everyone,
Man, it’s been quite a few intense days. Not necessarily with what we’ve been doing (House to House Visitations), but rather the inner wrestling match that I’ve been having with myself and God.
In the past few days, my team and I have had the opportunity to go throughout different villages (Chemwa and Namikelo) and visit people telling them about Jesus and praying for them. It’s been quite the experience, and I am honestly astounded with the absolute hospitality that the Kenyan people have. Me, a stranger with about 3-4 other people, comes up to them and the first thing that they say to us is “Karibu nyumbani kwetu” (meaning “Welcome to our Home”). Immediately, we are welcomed inside their home. Sometimes they will invite us to sit down, sometimes they will offer us Chai Tea, bread and sweet bananas (that are local to them). With our interpreters, we will introduce who we are and let them know that we are visitors from America who are with the local church. We ask them if they know Jesus, are born again and if there is anything that we can be praying for. Most often times, the people that we meet know Christ and are born again, but there have been a few that don’t in whom we get to speak to about Jesus.
But one thing that truly amazes me is the awe-inspiring faith where they say things like, “I know that if you pray for me, God will intervene and make a way.” It’s amazing the level of faith that they have, that it actually throws me off guard. I see the conditions they live in and what they go through, and yet they still believe with full assurance that God will deliver them into better conditions. And in that, it convicts me, because as of lately, I’ve been struggling with a Thomas-like faith. If you’re wondering who Thomas is, here is short excerpt from scripture that helps paint a picture of who Thomas was:
“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”” – John 20:24-31 (NIV)
For me recently, I’ve been operating out of a Thomas-like faith. “God, I want to see you move and I want to see you do something miraculous in order to fully believe in your power.” And it’s not been quite as fruitful as I anticipated. There a post I saw on Instagram that really convicted me (see below).
But as I’ve been reminded by both God and other people that God has placed in my path, we are to have childlike faith. It’s fully trusting faith that believes even when we can’t see it. As one of my friends gave me as analogy:
“We could think back to when we were a kid and were taken to the doctor’s office to get our shots. Depending on how old you were, you might not have liked it because all you felt was pain and you didn’t understand why your parents would allow you to go through such pain. And in that, you might have questioned the goodness of your parents and why they would take you to a place that brings forth pain. But your parents know the benefit even though you may not understand. So with that, they just tell you to trust them and to know that it’s for your benefit. This is the same with God. Sometimes we aren’t going to understand why God allows us to walk through pain, failure, or tough times, but we must trust that what He’s allowing us to walk through is for our benefit.
So be encouraged! If you are walking through something painful, experiencing failure, or enduring through something that you don’t understand; don’t question God’s goodness. Rather, lean into God and ask Him what He’s trying to teach you in that moment. For me, God has been teaching me what it means to have an intimate Father-Son relationship with Him in which I approach Him as a Father rather than some far off, distant God. It’s been tender and tough (as I’m pretty hard-headed and need to hear it about 5,000 times before it actually sinks in XD). But thank God that He is patient with us and willing to work with us as we learn what it means to have a relationship with Him. Love you guys and hope that this encouraged you today!
Sincerely,
– Hunter Land
