Trust in Action

by Kim Breuninger

It was Sunday on the first of day of my seventh trip to Zambia. I eagerly anticipated my reunion with a dear friend Setilda and her husband Alfred, pastor of the homegrown church we would attend that morning. The team was excited to hear what the Lord might say to us this first day of our adventure.

Setilda and Alfred were waiting outside when we arrived and, after a warm greeting, guided us into the dimly lit cinder block room. The front row of wooden benches resting on the dirt floor had been reserved for honored guests. Worship had already begun so we joined in, dancing and singing, even though the songs were sung in Nyanja.

Not quite into the second song, I felt a tap on my shoulder; I was needed in the back of the room to speak with Pastor Alfred and Kelly, the missionary who’d escorted us that morning. Kelly and I had previously discussed the possibility, and cultural probability, that I would be asked to say a word or two in greeting, which I was prepared to do. As I stepped outside into the sunlight I was sure we were going to confirm that. However, the words I heard next quickly drained me of all confidence.  Pastor Alfred was informing Kelly that I (as in, “Who me?!”) was going to be giving the message to the church that morning! I did my very best to politely decline the honor, but there was no convincing the good pastor that this honor should pass me by. It is their tradition. 

It came to me then that this is what Moses must have felt. He did his best to talk God out of the plan He had for him. (Ex. 3-4) Moses came up with excuses like, “Who am I?”  And, “What if they don’t listen to me?” and, “I don’t have the words!”  And finally, “Please send someone else to do it!”  My mind thought of our missionary guide, Kelly. I said, “You can do it! You live here, it’s what you do!” But that didn't work; Kelly was not the honored guest, I was.

Mission trips are planned with projects in mind; tasks the team will accomplish. I’m a big planner and very task oriented. I had planned the trip for my team, a women’s conference for pastors’ wives, and to be part of a full day of fun for 80 orphans. But God’s plan had more in mind.

God is teaching me that He doesn't send me to be a worker, He sends me to grow in my faith. My life verse is 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” I suppose God felt this was a good time for me to put that verse into action. 

Remembering God’s promise to give Moses the words he would need when he needed them, I prayed, stepped up to the podium, and God did the rest.  I spoke on God’s sovereignty, which had been the topic of our team devotion that morning.

That night as I reflected on the day’s events, I reread what I had written in my journal that morning before we left to visit Setilda’s. It said, “He always knows how things will go for you. Trust Him. He has it worked out ahead of you.”

This is my prayer for our whole team; that we would each trust that the Lord knows just how to stretch each one of us. He knows just where to put us to encourage our growth. And He knows just what to ask us to do to bring us closer to Him and deepen our love for Him. 

Will you pray with me?