In August, I signed up for a short-term mission trip to Haiti. When I signed up, God had already clearly spoken to me that I should be in my hometown until January. I had planned to leave for discipleship school in Spain by October, but God had a different idea. This was made clear to me through my back pain, which I had no choice but to rehabilitate. I have been going to physical therapy for almost four months now and seen a HUGE difference. (I'm not 100% so prayers are still greatly appreciated!)
This past Wednesday, I received an email with the news that our trip to Haiti had been canceled due to riots in the town we would be in. Just ONE day before I was supposed to head out, God throws this plot twist at me.
Well, I think it had been thrown at me a while back... I just wasn't listening.
My plane ticket was already booked, and although there were riots it wasn't THAT dangerous right? I tried finding a way around the signs God was so clearly showing me. I wanted to figure out a way to go on my own. I mean, I didn't have an ounce of fear in me so why not go?! Looking back, my discernment was being clouded by my selfish desires to leave the country. I went to speak with my associate pastor to see what he thought about it.
As I talked out all of the angles spinning through my head, he simply said, "I'm reminded of the story of Jonah".
Jonah, the book of the Bible where God sends a guy to the city of Nineveh, he doesn't want to obey, heads the opposite direction, and is swallowed by a fish that makes him rethink his decision to doubt what God had commanded.
Immediately it hit me...
AMERICA IS MY NINEVEH.
It burned a little. God has called me here and now for a specific purpose. This meant staying put, even if it was only a short five-day trip. He wanted me to stay. I had completely missed it. I thought I was walking in obedience and I mean, come on, how could God argue with leaving America for a mission trip. It was about Him, right?
Instead of being disappointed, I was expectant. Instead of being down, I was intrigued.
"What are you doing, God? What do you have planned for me instead of Haiti?"
It was almost as if God was telling me, "Oh, just you wait."
In the time that I was supposed to be in Haiti (which still has a couple of days remaining) God has done the following:
-taken me on a trip to minister to the homeless in Oklahoma City
-led me to a coffee warehouse where an idea for a business was ignited
-started that business, which has spread so much faster than I thought possible
-given me guidance about the organization I am starting (I will post a blog soon about this!) as well as provided a name for it
-brought clarity to things I had been praying about
-blessed me with a deeper friendship with a new friend of mine, who I know will be a friend for life!
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(Just a few of the sweet faces I encountered this past week.)
All of these things and more wouldn't have happened had I been in Haiti. Two days remain of the time I had set aside for Haiti and I am expectantly waiting to see what God is going to do.
Lesson learned? Instead of doubting God's plans you must run towards them. If you choose to ignore His plans, you might completely miss what He has for you
OR
You just might be lucky enough to be swallowed by a fish and get rerouted back into His perfect path for your life.
"But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows, for my salvation comes from the Lord alone. " -Jonah 2:9
Even if they might seem righteous, what plans and desires do you need to sacrifice?
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