I am not sure about you, but so far 2024 has not gone as planned. Over the years I have learned not to plan too far ahead so I had only the first three weeks of the year planned as I was going to be in Bolivia. But from my last article you know that those plans changed along with everything that was organized by the missionary family who I would have stayed with. Another missionary told me of all the bad experiences he has had since the year began. He lamented that his computer broke, his refrigerator broke, his mountain shoes broke and when he was going to put on his dress shoes to go to church, he realized they were broken too, and all these things happened within just the first eight days of the year. I empathized with him as I had earlier said something similar to a member of the prayer group for the missionaries. My first eight days were quite interesting also. Besides being barred from entering a country, I had no hot water, lost internet, no local phone to contact anyone, no bag to buy food at the supermarket, which was not selling shopping bags, and then had toilet problems. After I moved to another apartment, I found there was no microwave, or pot to cook or warm food on the stove, the electric kettle doesn’t work well, the shower doesn’t fully close so the bathroom gets wet all the time and there is no mop, and I have a hard time getting in the apartment because I can’t get the key working in the door downstairs. Thankfully God has been sending me help and has given me ideas to work out many of these issues. He is a great problem solver.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
God has kept on delivering me from each problem and I am so thankful for this. I have learnt that although I may have the right door in front of me and the correct key for it, God may have to send someone to help to make the key work for me so I can go through the door. God has truly been faithful even through all the mishaps in the start of this New Year. He has given purpose to the problems. There is a saying in English that does not translate well in other languages that says, “In every disappointment is an appointment.” I realize that going to Bolivia for this New Year was not the appointed time as God had other appointments for me in Argentina. I got a message asking if I wanted to go to an indigenous church. I couldn’t resist and got ready in less that thirty minutes to accompany Pastor Rodolfo and his son, Hiram. On the way, Pastor Rodolfo said I could give a testimony and to my surprise when we arrived, he told the pastor of this indigenous church that I could do anything - I could raise the offering, give a testimony, or even preach. So, when the pastor introduced me, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say so I prayed for the Holy Spirit to lead. Thankfully, I had Hiram translating and what I shared was well received by the church. I am so grateful to God for that.
There I was in an indigenous church in Argentina instead of being in Bolivia with the missionaries where I had planned to be. What is interesting is that not long after this ministry for the missionaries started, a friend from Iran and I researched the indigenous people of Latin America. We found that the people of the Qom tribe who are members of this church have many difficulties living in Argentina. I had sent out a list to pray for the indigenous tribes in Latin America in October 2021 and never thought that in January 2024 I would be ministering to the same people we were praying for just a couple years before. It is true as Proverbs 16:9 says that we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. I have seen where God has used my denial of entry into Bolivia in some amazing ways. He is good and His will shall be done in its appointed time no matter the circumstances.
And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:13-14
Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is an appointed time for everything, so when our plans change, we should recognize that we are on God’s schedule. Sarah could not believe that she would have a child in her old age, put that was God’s appointed time for her. God can do the impossible. There is nothing too hard for Him. He is not limited by time, finances, age, health issues or even natural laws because He is a supernatural God. So, when nothing makes sense and our plans change, don’t worry God has a plan. He is doing a new thing and will make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert so that we can get on the path to His purpose to fulfill His plans for our lives.
Comments