Monday, July 16, 2012

When God doesn't make sense. . .

     I have been a follower of Christ for over 21 years now and I must admit that there are still so many times that I don't understand God or the way he works. I just returned this morning from a missions trip to Costa Rica.  It was an absolutely an amazing experience, but not at all what I thought it was going to be.
     Let me give you a little background.  When I was 16 years old I said yes to God's voice which I felt like was saying "Go on a missions trip."  One night I was praying fervently about where God would want me to go and I clearly heard him say "Costa Rica."  I just knew once I heard that direction that I would be on a plane to Costa Rica that summer.  Well it didn't work out that way at all.  Instead, that summer I found myself doing missions work in Mexico.  Actually, this God-given dream for Costa Rica didn't come true for 20 years.  Why did God so clearly tell me to do something that he didn't want me to do till 20 years later?  I have no idea.  Sometimes, God doesn't make sense!
     We started out this journey this year thinking God was sending us to Mexico, but then we felt it change to Costa Rica!  Twenty years ago, I felt a call to Costa Rica but ended up in Mexico.  Why does God work this way? I have no idea.  Sometimes, God doesn't make sense!
     Our family stepped out in faith to go on this missions trip (all 5 of us!)  We knew it was going to cost us thousands of dollars, but we prayed and asked God to provide it all.  God is so faithful.  Through people's generosity, we were blessed with every penny, an amazing answer to prayer!
     While, I was at it I figured I would pray another prayer, which I knew was totally selfish.  I prayed that while we were in Costa Rica God would allow Dianne and I to swim in the ocean with our kids.  We prayed this prayer despite the missions trip directors consistent statements that our ministry site was no where near the beach and that it wouldn't be possible.  To make a long story short, we found ourselves zip-lining in the rain forest 2 minutes from the beach on our free day!
     Here is the funny part.  Our bus broke down on the way to the rain forest which delayed us a couple of hours.  This meant that our dream to swim with our kids in the ocean, looked like us swimming for 30 minutes while it rained.  Why did God answer my totally selfish prayer in such a non-climatic way?  I have no idea.  Sometimes, God doesn't make sense.
     Finally, because God revealed this journey to me 20 years in advance, we were praying and believing God for amazing things.  As a group we prayed for thousands of salvations, miracles, healings and a revival to break out in Costa Rica.  Instead, our trip consisted of loving on poor children, disabled children, and orphans.  What I thought was going to happen didn't happen at all.  We didn't sweep the country of Costa Rica as Christian Rock Stars, instead God broke our hearts for the things that break his heart.  Why did it happen this way?  Because sometimes God doesn't make sense.
     As I look back on this trip, I wouldn't have it any other way.  God says "My thought are higher than your thoughts, my ways higher than your ways."  God blessed us in incredible ways through this adventure but not at all the way we anticipated, because sometimes God doesn't make sense!