By John Meriweather, Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia

Have you ever considered the magnitude, the enormity, of God’s mission? To go unto ALL the world? To make disciples in EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, and people? How easy is it for us to place human limits on an all-powerful, limitless God? Still we go. We do our part.

There is an old Arab proverb that says, “It isn’t the mountain ahead that deters my journey; it is the grain of sand in my shoe.”

Often it isn’t the enormity of the mission that causes us to stumble but the grain of sand–the challenge of the moment–that tests our faith.

God is faithful. We know that to be true. We proclaim God’s faithfulness when we reflect on the past. We see the big picture of God at work in our rearview mirror – how God has blessed those faithful men and women over the years who have answered the call to “go and tell.” We see that fruit today all around the world.

And we cling to God’s promises for the future, believing God will continue to bless our faithful efforts today. That ultimately God’s glory will be made known and his kingdom expanded through the prayerful toil of faithful servants around the world.

But it’s the grain of sand in the shoe–the circumstances of the moment–that often ensnares us. We know God has proven faithful in the past, we believe he will be faithful in the future, but what about today? What about the situation I’m currently facing? What about the very next step of my journey?

In the countries of Southeast Asia where BMA missionaries are serving, the mountains are real. They are areas of the world where Christianity is suppressed and where false religions are ingrained in the culture. It has been said that in Thailand, for example, it can take up to seven years to see conversion and discipleship due to the “mountain” of Buddhism. The same is true in the Himalayas and in India with Hinduism. In Myanmar,  oppression, suffering, and literal sacrifice is real. All of these are mountains our missionaries face.

But it is the day-to-day work that so often challenges our faith and resolve:

When that relationship we invested in for so long is severed.

When the visa is denied.

When you are kicked out of the building you’ve been meeting in.

When converts stray.

When doors of opportunity are slammed in your face.

When you are constantly battling a system and culture that is against you.

In these moments, the mountain is blurred by the moment. It’s the current crisis, indeed the constant stream of disappointments that become countless grains of sand in our shoes.

For our missionaries all across Southeast Asia, First Peter 5:6-10 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

In Thailand, India, Myanmar, and new churches in the Himalayas, pray for the mountains they face, and the persecution, oppression, and false religions that drown out the truth. These are ever present conditions. They are real. They are hard.

But also pray for faith in the moment, for today, for this week–for our missionaries to be “firm in the faith, knowing the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by brothers throughout the world.” Pray they will cling to the God of all grace, the God of unwavering faithfulness. Pray they will not be deterred by the moment, by the immediate crisis, by doors that refuse to open. Pray that Christ will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them.

And most of all, pray that God will be glorified, his truth revealed, lives transformed, disciples made, and churches planted.

Every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – that’s the mission. It’s big, even enormous, but we move forward in the faith that was revealed in the past, promised for the future, and necessary for today.By John Meriweather, Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia

Have you ever considered the magnitude, the enormity, of God’s mission? To go unto ALL the world? To make disciples in EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, and people? How easy is it for us to place human limits on an all-powerful, limitless God? Still we go. We do our part.

There is an old Arab proverb that says, “It isn’t the mountain ahead that deters my journey; it is the grain of sand in my shoe.”

Often it isn’t the enormity of the mission that causes us to stumble but the grain of sand–the challenge of the moment–that tests our faith.

God is faithful. We know that to be true. We proclaim God’s faithfulness when we reflect on the past. We see the big picture of God at work in our rearview mirror – how God has blessed those faithful men and women over the years who have answered the call to “go and tell.” We see that fruit today all around the world.

And we cling to God’s promises for the future, believing God will continue to bless our faithful efforts today. That ultimately God’s glory will be made known and his kingdom expanded through the prayerful toil of faithful servants around the world.

But it’s the grain of sand in the shoe–the circumstances of the moment–that often ensnares us. We know God has proven faithful in the past, we believe he will be faithful in the future, but what about today? What about the situation I’m currently facing? What about the very next step of my journey?

In the countries of Southeast Asia where BMA missionaries are serving, the mountains are real. They are areas of the world where Christianity is suppressed and where false religions are ingrained in the culture. It has been said that in Thailand, for example, it can take up to seven years to see conversion and discipleship due to the “mountain” of Buddhism. The same is true in the Himalayas and in India with Hinduism. In Myanmar, oppression, suffering, and literal sacrifice is real. All of these are mountains our missionaries face.

But it is the day-to-day work that so often challenges our faith and resolve:

When that relationship we invested in for so long is severed.

When the visa is denied.

When you are kicked out of the building you’ve been meeting in.

When converts stray.

When doors of opportunity are slammed in your face.

When you are constantly battling a system and culture that is against you.

In these moments, the mountain is blurred by the moment. It’s the current crisis, indeed the constant stream of disappointments that become countless grains of sand in our shoes.

For our missionaries all across Southeast Asia, First Peter 5:6-10 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

In Thailand, India, Myanmar, and new churches in the Himalayas, pray for the mountains they face, and the persecution, oppression, and false religions that drown out the truth. These are ever present conditions. They are real. They are hard.
But also pray for faith in the moment, for today, for this week–for our missionaries to be “firm in the faith, knowing the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by brothers throughout the world.” Pray they will cling to the God of all grace, the God of unwavering faithfulness. Pray they will not be deterred by the moment, by the immediate crisis, by doors that refuse to open. Pray that Christ will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them.
And most of all, pray that God will be glorified, his truth revealed, lives transformed, disciples made, and churches planted.

Every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – that’s the mission. It’s big, even enormous, but we move forward in the faith that was revealed in the past, promised for the future, and necessary for today.