God's already spoken

I didn't really understand what in the world happened this morning until Maxi, Kerline and sweet Christie came to visit for a while this evening, always checking on us when Matt's gone. 

We walked to church with the Edlers and a whole bunch of our students who couldn't safely make it home this weekend.  It was crazy, pouring hot, Matt wasn't there, the road was the hottest mess of all. 

We wanted to be there. We needed to worship together.  It was a gift to meet with every Christ-follower in our village, to worship together, though the sweat was pouring down my face, though I have too many children for Matt to be in South Korea, though the road was too bad to go.

 

But the pastor. For 45 minutes he shared horror story after horror story. He talked about how awful things are right now, shared horrible stories just from his trip from Cap-Haitian to church this morning. I cringed as he shared painful detail after painful detail, from all over the country, heaping one hopeless mess upon another, as I was hoping and praying that Lily, up with the other kids, wasn't listening.

I kept waiting for him to get into the Word, but he concluded with horribly discouraging things, like, "things are so bad right now that we have absolutely NO choice but to be afraid," and "If God doesn't say something soon, what are we going to do?"

After 45 minutes, everyone's heads were literally in their hands, slumped. I wanted to go back to bed and hide for the next six months. Or cry. And throw up.  And the whole spirit of the church was so heavy.

I've heard that preacher several times, and I've never heard him totally skip God's word. 

I've been depressed about it all day, frustrated that while while he was holding God's Word, the one thing we really really needed, he told us all that God has been silent.  I was frustrated because we all NEED the GOOD News of radiant hope, and instead he told us what we all already know. 

As I fight with all the news stories, the phone calls, the text messages, the scary photos and pictures and threats of tomorrow...I can't HEAR it again from the pastor on Sunday morning. We need something totally different. We've gotta BE and PREACH something totally different.

As Maxi and Kerline and I were talking tonight, and I explained what had happened in church this morning, Max simply said, "Well, what happened is that he got discouraged. He had an awful trip to church this morning, he was afraid, he was discouraged, and he's so afraid and discouraged that it's all he could talk about. That's all."

He was right.  That IS was happened. And I can relate to that. I get afraid and discouraged, too, and have to run right back to the Lord just over and over again before I open my mouth or believe my fears or address my students or children or self.

We came home, the girls and I made pizza for the 22 students and staff stuck on campus, because we are NOT obligated to be afraid...but we are obligated to love one another well.  As we did, I reminded myself, instead, what God has ALREADY spoken for Haiti.

That He knows and sees and is not far off. That we need never fear what man can do, for He is with us. That He has a plan, a good plan, for each of us, to give us a FUTURE, even when it feels impossible. That the wicked will not prosper. That He is on the throne.  

I'm not a pastor, but Christian leaders in Haiti have ONE JOB right now, and it is to SAY and SHARE what God HAS spoken...be of good courage, for He is with us.  

I'll never forget what a deep impact a worldly word of fear had on the hearts of hundreds this morning...and how heavily our words can discourage one another...or drive us on to TRUSTING Him more.

Matt is still on his 14-15 hour flight to South Korea for his birthday!  I'll let you know when he's safely arrived!

For a few who have asked, he is the main speaker at the Annual Cowman Lectures at Seoul Theological University.  He's presenting two academic papers on holiness to University students and faculty: Holiness in the Torah, and John Wesley and the New Perspective of Paul.

My heart is heavy for the deep hurt, injustice, pain, corruption and horror of this country. People cannot live like this. Haiti is at a very critical time, on the brink of breaking.  Please continue to faithfully and boldly pray with us, and if you know someone in Haiti, ANYONE...encourage them with His Words today. They NEED it.