I’ve enjoyed decades of my life as a missionary.
But coming home to the U.S. is also great. It’s so great, in fact, that I always struggle when it comes time to go back to the field.
Pressure from other people to stay in America never helped my struggle. “Your children will be warped, maladjusted misfits,” a few people reasoned, telling me how much better it would be to raise my children in the U.S. “Wait until your children are older,” some said.
Still, my husband and I went to the field with our three young daughters. It wasn’t easy. I found it so hard every time we said goodbye to our loved ones and got on a plane to go back to the field. It would’ve been a lot easier to have stayed in America.
But God knows that. He knows my heart. He knows that I am willing—even if I am a bit hesitant to return to my life overseas.
So why am I willing? It comes down to why my husband and I went in the first place.
We went because we are burdened for the lost. We went to obey Jesus’ command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20
When Jesus sent out His disciples in Luke 10, He didn’t ask them if they were ready to go. He just said, “Go.”
There is no ideal time when you’re supposed to go to the field.
Many single men and women wonder if they should wait to go overseas until they find a spouse. The reality is that life on the field will be hard—sometimes heart wrenching—for singles.
Married couples also face profoundly difficult questions: “Can we do this with little ones? Will my spouse be ok? Will the medical care overseas be good enough? What about education?”
But I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no easy age or perfect time to go to the field. If we wait for the ideal time, we may never go.
Looking back on the decades I’ve spent obeying God, I realize I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Even when I’ve felt so hesitant to obey, God has remained so faithful and provided for every need.
Just think about when we get to Heaven: what a glorious time to reunite with people we’ve interacted with from all over the world—brothers and sisters who we’ve seen courageously said yes to following Christ Jesus.
God bless you, fellow messenger of the Gospel. Depend on Him for today’s grace to step forward into His vision for your life.
**This account comes from a long-term worker.**
Original article: https://www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/when-you-feel-hesitant
