Overwhelmed

"It might be hard to find one in 10,000 or a million who will understand that half of the world has never heard the name Jesus and are plunging into eternal hell, and who will give their lives away to die and be unknown, unnoticed for their sake.” ~ George Verwer

I read this quote this morning and have been upset ever since. Not because I don’t agree with it. I do. In fact I desire this commitment - this faith. It’s just so overwhelming. Half the world dying without Christ? How many countries is that? How many languages is that? How much money for plane tickets is that? How much time is needed? What can I really do?

I just feel so helpless to really do anything and then, even if I do, does it matter? I know that it does but why does it never seem like it … feel like it? I long for those small, priceless moments when you see it - you see a tiny glimpse of what you’ve been working for, what you’ve been praying for.

At Lee we have this saying that we are in the “Lee Bubble”- referencing the fact that we are all so immersed in the the Lee University culture that we are in a bubble of sorts. I’ve been out of this bubble for around 2 weeks and I have to admit that I miss it. I miss the protective feeling that it provides. Yes, there is stress in the “Lee Bubble,” problems in the “Lee Bubble,” but they aren’t “half the world is dying and going to hell” problems. They aren’t “people with no homes due to a tsunami” problems. They look more like “I have 3 tests and a paper” problems.

It hurts when our bubble is popped.

Somedays I so desperately, SO desperately, wish that God would get “more involved in the world” (as if He weren’t already). Why does He often seem so distant and uninvolved in the places where we need Him most? Why aren’t more people healed? Why do we pray for years and never see our loved ones come to Christ (not yet, anyway). Perhaps it has something to do with how finite we are? How little we can really see?

I don’t have all the answers but I am convinced that God is still good. Still loving. Still working in deeper ways than we can fathom. I never want to lose faith in God’s character. In WHO He is.

May we be humbled by that fact that the Living God constantly chooses to work with such a broken people and planet. May our eyes be open to how much He is accomplishing daily. May we not be overwhelmed by the pain we see, but may our faith grow to meet the need. With each day may we trust more in the power of Jesus.