People Are Messy

I wish I could sit with you and tell you all the things I have been able to see and do during my time of being an overseas missionary. I saw God accomplish what I thought was impossible, hearts were transformed, and families were restored. But there is always the hard part of humanity. You are reminded that people are messy.

The young prostitute returns to sell her body, the dad who begins using drugs again, the mom who can't control her temper. I’m reminded that you can't control people. You can’t control the homeless man who just took your money and used it to buy alcohol and you can’t control those around you into making honoring decisions. But you can control your heart. You can control your response, to risk it all and say yes to love.

Love is such a beautiful thing. But loving others can lead to heartbreak.

The simplicity of God is beautiful. The power of our meager yes to love; His massive heart to show up. Because we know love trumps the hurts. Always.

When serving God with the love only He can give—- which can look like listening to the hearts of children who long for love, seeing what people do to survive, knowing kids that were kidnapped, or seeing injustice and feeling your heart break for justice—- I have to rest in the fact that He is good. Always. And that He loves us, always. He is at work as I cling to him with shaky hands. With this I can breathe. I can praise Him.

Processing injustice is a journey. A journey of “passing through the valley” but never remaining there. I pray that the people that pass through horrific situations, also pass through that valley, and find Jesus, hope, and laughter in the midst and on the other side.

And in moving forward, we (who choose to love) are laying the foundations of God’s goodness, waiting and knowing that He keeps His promises.

In my time serving overseas I am reminded of so many great things that the Lord did. I’m also reminded of His tangible love that in turn helped me love people, even when it was messy. May we continue to be motivated by a deep love for Him and be used by Him as a vessel for His love because only He is able to use messy people for His honor and glory.

“For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you. Who works for those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:4